The crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, is the biggest challenge to the world’s conscience since the Rwanda genocide in 1994. The ongoing devastation has killed an estimated 400,000 and displaced over 2.5 million Sudanese since February 2003. The UN has called it the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”
A government-backed Arab militia known as the Janjaweed has been engaging in campaigns to wipe out communities of African farmers. Civilians who have survived village destruction have fled to camps in Darfur and across the border in neighboring Chad. Hundreds of thousands of Darfurians are at risk of starvation and disease.
Colin Powell and Kofi Annan brought attention briefly to Darfur last summer. President Bush and the US Congress have declared that genocide is taking place. A major step toward peace was taken in southern Sudan in January, and the UN Secretary General has visited the region again. But the tragedy of Darfur continues.
Many religious communities and people of faith have voiced grave concern about the enormous suffering and loss of life. Funds are desperately needed for programs that will promote child protection, generate income for women, and encourage safe return to rebuilt villages. But before that can happen, the killing in the Darfur region must cease.
People of faith have graciously responded to relief efforts around the world. The time is now to help Darfurians.
After a bipartisan delegation visited refugee camps in January, 2005 Rep. Barbara Lee concluded, “I saw missing limbs. I looked in the eyes of the girls who had been raped. The sheer force of the human suffering we witnessed has strengthened my conviction that we must take action to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur.”
-Prayer from a Darfurian Woman © Gloria Silvano, Sudan I CAFOD
“I want to join my prayers to many other voices. Every few months we are driven away from one refugee camp to the other, so far in the desert where nothing, nothing at all exists. This is no way for a human being to live. No way to live in such a shocking place - uncultivated, waterless, treeless and barren region ... ! Everything is burning, Lord, around me, around us ... in me, in us ... Everything is barren, hell, hell...!
Yet, Lord, we believe you are there, beside us. We pray for all the Africans living now our same condition. Bring back peace and tranquility to our beloved country. Peace which is desired by everybody, the old and young, rich and poor, women and men.
Amen ... amen ... Let it be so.”