Res Publica 2005

Save Darfur Coalition

News Summary

Darfur Village Rampage Shocks UN

April 9, 2005 - BBC News

The UN and African Union have condemned with "disbelief" a village rampage by militiamen in Sudan's Darfur region. They said 350 militiamen torched all but two buildings in Khor Abeche, 75km (47 miles) from Nyala on Thursday. The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says reports speak of 17 people killed in the raid by militiamen riding horses and camels.

Lack of Funds Forces Food Cuts in Darfur: WFP

April 9, 2005 - Aljazeera

The World Food Program (WFP) issued a stark warning Friday, saying that food rations will be cut for more than one million Darfurians who have fled the fighting in Sudan's western regions to makeshift camps because of a drastic shortage of funds. According to the WFP, it has only received 41 percent of the required funds for the emergency program in 2005 and that the food shortage would worsen in July and August when the rainy season would increase the number of people needing food aid from 2.3 million to 2.8 million.

Sudan Donors Pledge $2.6 Bln Aid, Despite Darfur

April 12, 2005 - New York Times

Donors promised at least $2.6 billion Tuesday to help southern Sudan recover after Africa's longest civil war but Washington told Khartoum to end atrocities in Darfur or risk a slide ``back into the depths.'' U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said Washington aimed to give $1-$2 billion but that the aid hinged on Sudan bolstering the January North-South peace deal and on work to end the separate conflict in Darfur in the west.

Arab News Editorial: Darfur to ICC

April 6, 2005 - Arab News

The author of this editorial writes, ?International sentiment is wholly on the side of the people of Darfur. It is time that Khartoum faced up to that fact and made moves to settle the problem before Darfur explodes into a full-scale secessionism.?

Chad Government Accuses Sudan of Backing Rebels, Suspends Darfur Mediation

April 11, 2005 - All Africa News

Chad has accused Sudan of providing backing for a 3,000-strong rebel force operating on the border between the two countries, and in retaliation is suspending its mediation in the Darfur conflict.

UN Rights Expert Accuses Sudan of War Crimes in Darfur

April 9, 2005 - PolitInfo

A United Nations human rights expert is calling on the international community to step up its pressure on the Sudanese government to stop, what he calls, the systematic rape of women and other abuses against civilian victims of the war in Darfur. The expert has submitted his report to the UN Human Rights Commission which is holding its annual session in Geneva.

Women Raped Even After Seeking Refuge

April 12, 2005 - Reuters

Women and girls who have fled ethnic cleansing in Darfur are being raped and subjected to sexual violence around the camps where they have sought refuge, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. The briefing paper documents how the Sudanese security forces, including police deployed to protect displaced persons, and allied Janjaweed militias continue to commit rape and sexual violence on daily basis. Even as refugees in Chad, women and girls fleeing the violence in Darfur continued to face the risk of rape and assault by civilians or militia members when collecting water, fuel or animal fodder near the border.

Darfur summit in Egypt postponed

April 11, 2005 - Independent Online (South Africa)

A five-nation African summit in Egypt on the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan has been postponed because some leaders could not attend it, an Egyptian official said on Monday. Egypt had planned to host the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on April 20 and had invited the leaders of Chad, Libya, Nigeria and Sudan.

Interfaith Group Backs Call to End Darfur Genocide

April 11, 2005 - Christian Today

In light of the continuing necessity for international intervention in Darfur, Sudan, the United Religions Initiative Global Council have voted to endorse the Darfur Unity Statement, according to a URI press release. The Darfur Unity Statement, which was drafted by the Save Darfur Coalition, seeks "a massive worldwide humanitarian response and call to end the violence and investigate crimes against humanity." URI is joining that call by becoming the latest organization to sign its name along with over 100 other faith-based and human rights groups.

Editorial: Doing Better by Darfur

April 11, 2005 - Washington Post

The editor writes, "If the United States does not lead on Darfur, nobody else is going to. Leadership means getting a much larger peacekeeping force into Darfur, so that attacks on civilians cease and humanitarian workers can reach all parts of the territory. To achieve that objective, Mr. Zoellick needs to break the collective paralysis by changing the way the Chinese, Russians, Europeans and Africans think; his most important mission is not this week's visit to Khartoum but future trips to Beijing, Moscow and so on."

Bracelet Sales Benefit Darfur

April 8, 2005 - Arizona Daily Wildcat

A group of concerned University of Arizona students is speaking out about the ongoing genocide to state and national representatives. Known as the Concerned Students to Save Darfur, the non-partisan group sold green bracelets on the UA Mall yesterday and will again today to raise funds for the Darfur region and to educate students about the cause, said David Manthei, a member of the group.

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# posted by Knitting a Conundrum @ 7:10 AM 1 comments