THE DARFUR GENOCIDE by Cristhian Sanchez

History of the Darfur Genocide

by Cristhian Sanchez

Do you have any idea of what is happening in Darfur, Africa?
A similar genocide as the Holocaust has been going on in our present time. Apparently, this is the 4th genocide in Sudan in the past 30 years. It started as a result of the majority government trying to ethnically cleanse the ethnic tribal population in the Darfur region of Sudan. This genocide began recently in 2003 and will last until some form of world coalition steps in and removes these people from power.

The conflict started in 2003 due to events that had been occurring in the previous years. These events included a number of attacks by Darfur Rebels against the Sudanese government.In February of 2003, the government gave up trying to find the rebels themselves and sent in a number of their own rebel forces known as the "Janjaweed." They were sent in using tactics similar to those which the nazis used in the conquering of the Western Europe. They organized air attacks on villages, followed by artillery, and then they sent in troops to burn, kill, rape, and attack those poor people in Darfur who had done nothing bad.

In February, 2003 , rebels in the western region of Darfur rose up against government, claiming the region was being neglected by Khartoum (capital of Sudan). In March, 2004, UN officials stated that pro-government Arab "Janjaweed" (a janjaweed basically means "A man with a gun on a horse") militias were carrying out systematic killing of thousands of African villagers in Darfur.

During the years 2005-2006 , peace talks occurred , but not all groups accepted them. Conflict still continued. By May, 2007, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for a minister and a janjaweed militia leader suspected of Darfur war crimes. By September of 2007 , the UN (or United Nations) talks on the composition of a Darfur peacekeeping force ended without agreement, meaning that the genocide or the killing of innocent people is still happening.

The US may take action about the genocide going on in Darfur. Our country in now involved. A letter was recently sent to our president, Barack Obama. This letter was written with the purpose of asking him to stop the genocide which is going on for no reason.

Solution:Progress High School should get involved.

According to the data that was collected during a survey given to Progress High School students, only 18 out of every 35 students knew what was happening in Africa. One question of the survey asked the following question, "Would you like this genocide to have and end?" Most of the students said "Yes," but they ended up asking me how they could help. Well, there is a certain website that is totally focused on this issue. On that site people from any country can make donations of only $1.

These people of Darfur need our financial help to purchase food , health supplies and other items. Aid organizations , which are working diligently it help refugees in the camps , need our financial support. Progress High School students should help those mothers and children suffering in Darfur.

Visit www.savedarfur.org if you'd like to contribute only $1. I already made my contribution. Please help us stop the loss of more innocent lives.

Article written by Cristhian Sanchez.