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The Crisis in Darfur

“About 400 armed people cordoned the village…At least 82 people were killed during the first attack. Some were shot and others, such as children and the elderly, were burnt alive in their houses” Darfur villager in a Chadian refugee camp

In January 2005, the signing of a peace agreement brought an end to the long term conflict in southern Sudan. In western Sudan, however, the conflict which flared up three years ago continues unabated despite formal peace talks and cease-fires.

At least two hundred thousand people are dead in the Darfur region alone. Some were killed during armed attacks. Many others died from disease and malnutrition. Thousands of women and girls have been systematically raped. Villages throughout the region have been burned to the ground ...

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Human Rights in Sudan: Overview

“This is the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, and I don’t know why the world isn’t doing more about it.” Mukesh Kapila, former United Nation staff in Sudan

The people of Sudan have endured over two decades of devastating armed conflict. Yet until recently, the serious human rights violations and an ongoing humanitarian crisis received little attention or action from the international community.

The causes of the conflicts in the south, east and west of Sudan are complex: competition over resources (including oil reserves), power, and the nature of the state itself, among others. The effects are more easily described. Over two million people are dead. Six million people have been forced from their homes, giving Sudan the largest population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the world. Some two million live in official camps or “squatter areas” around the capital Khartoum alone – the vast majority with no access to basic services. Thousands of women and children have been abducted and/or raped. Thousands more children were forced into combat roles. An unknown number of people are still missing. But not one perpetrator of war crimes or crimes against humanity has been brought to justice in Sudan.

The impact of war has also been felt outside the conflict zones. The Sudanese government has engaged in widespread human rights violations including torture, incommunicado detention, unfair trials, excessive use of force resulting in killings of demonstrators, and restrictions on freedom of expression and association. These violations have in turn fuelled actions against the government by armed groups who themselves have committed human rights abuses.

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The scale of crisis seems overwhelming, but there is reason to have hope for the people of Darfur.

Pressure from individuals, organizations and governments brought about the deployment of African Union (AU) ceasefire monitors and United National (UN) human rights monitors. A number of prisoners of conscience detained for speaking out about the crisis are now free. And a recent Urgent Action issued by Amnesty International lead to the release of five members of the Sudan Development Organization (SUSO) detained by security forces while running a training session on human rights monitoring in South Darfur.

Statement from UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator

Jan Egeland, July 2004

“The only thing in abundance in Darfur is weapons. It’s easier to get a Kalashnikov than a loaf of bread.”

Updated: 25 April 2008

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