Genocide & Hunger in DarfurGenocide & Hunger in Darfur

Katie StutsmanKatie Stutsman April, 2009 April, 2009

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Darfur_IDPs_children_sitting.jpg

IntroductionIntroduction

► Darfur located in Darfur located in Western SudanWestern Sudan

► Crisis considered Crisis considered “worst humanitarian “worst humanitarian disaster on the planet”disaster on the planet”

► Ethnic ViolenceEthnic Violence Estimated 1.8 million Estimated 1.8 million

have been displacedhave been displaced 70,000 people have 70,000 people have

dieddiedhttp://organizations.missouristate.edu/stand/Darfur-Map.gif

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

►Conflict nothing new to regionConflict nothing new to region Have been many civil wars in the regionHave been many civil wars in the region

►Have been conflict all but 11 years in Sudan Have been conflict all but 11 years in Sudan since gaining independence from U.K. in since gaining independence from U.K. in 19561956

►Government has a nearly 30 year history of Government has a nearly 30 year history of arming the rebelsarming the rebels Janjaweed comprised of the “Arab” fighters Janjaweed comprised of the “Arab” fighters

responsible for attacks in regionresponsible for attacks in region

Darfur Demographics & ClimateDarfur Demographics & Climate► Population: 6 millionPopulation: 6 million► Persistent Drought ConditionsPersistent Drought Conditions► Several Dozen TribesSeveral Dozen Tribes► Two Main Competing Interests:Two Main Competing Interests:

““African” descent; sedentary agriculturalistsAfrican” descent; sedentary agriculturalists ““Arab” descent; semi nomadic livestock herdersArab” descent; semi nomadic livestock herders

► Hard to tell difference between groupHard to tell difference between group IntermarriagesIntermarriages All Sudanese are AfricanAll Sudanese are African All Darfurians are uniformly MuslimAll Darfurians are uniformly Muslim

http://www.chfinternational.org/files/images/3304_file_CHF_Agriculture_Initiatives_in_North_Darfur_State.jpg

International ResponseInternational Response

► Slow to accept crisis as a genocideSlow to accept crisis as a genocide Some argue that it is not an extermination, just a forced Some argue that it is not an extermination, just a forced

removalremoval

► EU, Canadian, and British officials have not EU, Canadian, and British officials have not described conflict as a “genocide” described conflict as a “genocide”

► UN has asked for more informationUN has asked for more information► Celebrities have sparked a media frenzy fueling Celebrities have sparked a media frenzy fueling

more attention towards Darfurmore attention towards Darfur EvangelistsEvangelists Media outletsMedia outlets Civil Rights GroupsCivil Rights Groups

Impact on SocietyImpact on Society►Men most common victim of deathMen most common victim of death►Attacks also on women, children and elderlyAttacks also on women, children and elderly

Women victims of rapeWomen victims of rape►574 villages destroyed574 villages destroyed

1.8 million displaced1.8 million displaced People must gather in campsPeople must gather in camps

►Food crisis resultFood crisis result Conflict surrounding food distributionConflict surrounding food distribution Reliance on international aid for food in campsReliance on international aid for food in camps Increased disease as wellIncreased disease as well

HealthHealth

►Prevalence of acute Prevalence of acute bacterial diseasesbacterial diseases

►People mostly die People mostly die because they cannot because they cannot get health care, clean get health care, clean water or enough foodwater or enough food

►U.S. biggest supporter U.S. biggest supporter of money for foodof money for food

An Ethical PerspectiveAn Ethical Perspective

►Many people have lost their homesMany people have lost their homes►Many are left hungry, susceptible to Many are left hungry, susceptible to

disease, death, homesdisease, death, homes►Not a huge international responseNot a huge international response

Problem persisted before there was attentionProblem persisted before there was attention►Too much debate over definition of Too much debate over definition of

genocidegenocide Time could have been spent more wiselyTime could have been spent more wisely

Economic ImplicationsEconomic Implications

►Displaced individuals have lost main source Displaced individuals have lost main source of income and food: landof income and food: land Unsteady markets and poor climate conditionsUnsteady markets and poor climate conditions

►Not many solid jobs available in the campsNot many solid jobs available in the camps►Economic measurement of civilian death is Economic measurement of civilian death is

limitlesslimitless►Very expensive to provide aid to regionVery expensive to provide aid to region

U.S. has pledged $100 million to regionU.S. has pledged $100 million to region

ConclusionConclusion

►Conflict is real and Conflict is real and imminentimminent

►Sad that much of the Sad that much of the attention has been driven attention has been driven by celebrity appealby celebrity appeal

►Global effort needed to Global effort needed to overcome genocide and overcome genocide and hunger in the regionhunger in the region

SourcesSourcesScott, Straus. "Darfur and the Genocide Debate." Foreign Affairs 84 (2005): 123-33.

Weissman, Fabrice. “Humanitarian Dilemmas in Darfur.” July 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict