The Crisis In Darfur

         Darfur is a semi-arid western province of Sudan, which is Africa’s largest country. Darfur alone is the size of France. Omar al-Bashir, who is Sudan’s president, didn’t protect Darfurian people, also there have been tensions between mostly African farmers and the mostly Arab herders, who have competed for land. Tensions between groups stoked too many factors. First, disputes over land rights intensified as the amount of arable land dereased. Second, at the and of the Cold War, the weapons were cheap. Third, Arabs and Africans manipulated. The conflict began in 2003, when rebels began attacking government targets. The government didn’t help Darfurian people. There were some problems conserning Money, farming and feeding. These cause the conflict. In retallation, the goventment launched a military and police campaign in Darfur. Then Sudanese government stated, the situation was being exaggerated and ignored the Darfur genocide.

            In Darfur, there were some groups involved in the conflict. For instance, Janjaweed, the terrorized the local people, also raped and killed Darfurian people. Janjweed was accused of trying to drive out. They were all terrorists. When people searched for firewood or water, they killed men and raped women.

            More than 2 million people fled their homes. Many spoke of government aircraft bombing villages, after which the Arab Janjaweed militia would ride in on camels and horses to slaughter, rape and steal. The refugees and some western observers said there was a delibrate attempt to drive black Africans out of Darfur. Those who fled the violence started living in camps across Darfur. About 200,000 refugees crossed the border in Chad in 2006. They live in camps, dependent on food aid from international donors. Several people were banned from northern Sudan, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Omal al-Bashir is alleged war crimes. The International Community blamed Omar al-Bashir and supported the pro-government militias.

            On the other hand, the rebels were called rebel groups and took up arms only in self-defence, also resisted a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Peacekeepers wanted to stop the fighting. They talked to the International Communities and Sudanese government, then they agreed to allow this force to operate, but this relatively small force hasn’t managed to end the violence. Britaion and the US have been pushing for he United Nations to tahe over the peacekeeping missions and the African Union is happy yo stand asside.

            Darfurian people died of starvation or disease in the camps. They wanted to manage their conflict, but militias mobilized at the behest of the Sudanese, government, formed self-defence units. They all terrorised the civilian population because of their ethnic background. Correspondingly, they committed murder and rape and seized and lands.

            More than 2 million people fled their homes and went to Chad. They made camps, but after 3 years, of the torture, killig, kidnapping and rape hasn’t finished. Their village were destroyed. Therefore, their livelihoods was destroyed. The main problems were water and food. There wasn’t any food or water, so they were starving. Water is importand for our lives, but in Darfur, water was the biggest problem, so people were thirsty It was caused by hot water and drought.

            According to Google Earth maps, in the US, some researcher showed multimedia in Google Earth and satellite imaginary. They drew attention to the threats of genocide. They showed the difference between old Darfur and new Darfur. They used high-resolution imagenery of the country between fall 2006 and spring 2007. Users could see big pictures of attacks, but had no understanding of the local impact. Then two sets of data were combined, so pictures became more powerful. These images were about the before and after an villages, tents in refugee camps and villages became more personal and compelling. Finally, everybody saw the genocide images and they were anxious about Darfur. The Project shared critical information, prevented genocide, helped citizens and saw the problem in a new light.

            Some organizations made groups to help Darfur and to create solutions. The Bright Earth Project, a  volunteer organization, showed the proofs and displacement. Some other volunteers worked for more than a year. They created the first organization, called KML. On the other hand, AMIS and UNAMID peacekeepers went to Darfur and helped some people, but some of them were killed. Haskanita and Janjaweed people attacked and killed them. The African Union sent 7,000 soldiers to try to monitor a ceasefire. The Sudanese government agreed to allow this force to operate, but this force hasn’t managed to end the violence.

            The United States Senate was the first governmental body to declare the crisis, it was done by Bush administration. The United Nations said in Darfur, there were too many deaths due to hunger and disease. Their investigation said - a team – war crimes had been commited – but there was no intent to cimmit genocide. They showed statistics and they wanted to help Darfur. They studied the political plane.

According to UNICEF’s data, 300,000 people have died since 2004. 4,7 million people have been affected. 310,000 people have been displaced. In Darfur, lack of clean water stood at %76, under five mortality rates have fallen from 1,03 to 0,67. 4,500 children were associated. 32 convoys have been attacked and 144 humanitarien compounds broken, also too many peacekeepers have been killed. When Darfurian people displaced, the water increased.

According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Crisis in Darfur, more than 300,000 people have been killed, 2,5 million people driven from their and 1,600 villages have been damaged or destroyed in the past four years. The Sudanese government said fewer than 9,000 civilians have been killed.

According to Darfur Consortium, in May 2007, 34 aid workers were killed, 30 were kidnapped. Attacks increased 150% in a year. Totally 19 peacekeepers were killed. Thousands of villages were burned and livelihoods were destroyed. 240,000 refugees were killed. 132 staff members were abducted and aid workes were forced to suspend their action. Food has been stolen.

            These are the average statistics. Nobody can research, or can know the correct numbers. Attemps by the African Union to end the conflict resulted in a peace deal being signed in 2006. As part of the deal, the government agreed to disarm the Janjaweed, but there is little to suggest that this has happened. Violence has actually increased since the peace deal was signed.

            In my opinion, the Crisis in Darfur is the most important problem in the World. Technology is developing, humanity and quality of life are increasing, but in Darfur, everything is declining. Everybody has to live comfortably and relac. Neither us nor Darfurian people can live with the crisis. Everybody needs water, food and homes. Darfurian people need them too, but they can’t find anything to eat or drink. They were also displaced. Nowadays, we must organize well and help them, but first of all, we must solve the problem between the Sudanese government, groups and Darfurian people. Then we should give them lots of food and water. They need them. If we don’t help Darfurian people, maybe one day we will get into trouble, so nobdy will help us either. If we want tol ive in peace, we must get together and we will end the crisis.

My teacher’s opinion about my writing: You’ve covered the problem well. I am glad you’re included your own opinions. I hope you found it interesting to read about. Very good job.