Strawberry Kiwi

I think that the posts everyone wrote are very respectful and well thought out. There are no inappropriate or stupid comments, and everyone’s comments are very informative and interesting to read. I think that it is great that we got so many people to discuss this important  topic. I hope that this project inspires more people to take action to help the people of Darfur. Visit our blog for Darfur and all of the comments from our international blog for Darfur day.  

It is 5 o’clock in the morning in Darfur. It’s still mostly dark outside. Ismail Jarbo and his family awake to the sound of aircraft flying overhead and bombing. Janjaweed, the Sudanese Air Force, jeeps and aircrafts are attacking them. The bombs come. They reach Ismail Jarbo’s house. His house is destroyed. Underneath all of the bricks and crumbling straw and mud are bodies. Ismail Jarbo starts helping other survivors free the dead bodies from the rubble, but there are so many dead. It takes them about two days to get all of the bodies out, and grieve and bury them. Soon, Ismail learns that his father is dead. Ismail is not the only one who has lost friends, family, and everything he ever knew and loved in Darfur. These people are suffering, and we need to help.

The conflict in Darfur started in 2003, and since then, the United Nations still hasn’t intervened. Hundreds of civilians are forced to flee their homes every day because of the Janjaweed attacks and Air Force bombings. Even those who make it to refugee camps don’t have enough food and water. They faced with limited medical care, if any. As if food and water shortages aren’t bad enough, the refugees are crammed into small, shabby huts with no necessities. Since 2003, bombing and Janjaweed attacks have killed over 200,000 civilians. Sadly, since the Sudanese government is supporting the attacks on the people of Darfur, there is not enough help being sent. The Janjaweed is made up of nomads of Arab descent who live to the north of Darfur. They came south into Darfur farming land for water and food, and the people fought back and tried to keep them out of their farmland. The Sudanese government isn’t willing to openly admit that there is a genocide going on in the country, so stronger countries and organizations, like the US and the UN need to help out.

There are many things that can be done to help out in Darfur, some on a national level, and some things that anyone with a few dollars to spare can do. On a large scale, the US and the UN can send troops into Darfur to protect the civilians from Janjaweed attacks. If our government isn’t willing to do that, then we should at least send supplies and necessities to Darfur refugee camps. One thing that the county can do is a divestment towards helping the cause. We are trying to help a group of high schoolers get a divestment passed in Montgomery County. If the county stops paying companies that could be blocking UN action in Darfur, then we would be one small step closer to ending the genocide. To help out in Darfur on an individual basis, donating money to organizations that provide medical supplies or doctors for struggling countries, or other such action groups is an option. Raising money through a fundraiser for Darfur is a good way to raise a larger amount of money. Also, organizations are selling bracelets for Darfur to help spread awareness about this topic, because the media seems to avoid it. The money from bracelet sales also goes overseas to help out. Because the Sudanese haven’t put a stop to the genocide yet, after five years, the nightmare will continue until others make an effort to help.