DARFUR CRISES IN SUDAN
THE ROLE OF INTERNATION COMMUNITY
SALEHA SUMAN*

Background
Darfur is situated in western Sudan, and for its million people (a fifth of the Sudan population) living in the region geographically isolated and neglected by central government in Khartoum, had been adversely affected by the conflicts since the early 1980s. The relatively peaceful equilibrium degradation- the spread of the desert and the affect of the Sahel drougu- coupled with the divide- and – rule tactics of central government and the influx of modern weaponry.
In February 2003 two rebel groups rose against of the government of Khartoum because failing to protect the African population from the continuous attacks by Arab Militia. According to United Nation report at least 7000 people have been killed and millions are displaced.
Since April 500,000 refugees fleeing from the attack by ( Al-Janjaweed), have flooded into towns in Darfur itself, the rural areas are reported to be devastated. Thousands of refugees have crossed the border to Chad. After the collapse of the last peace talk between the gout and the rebel in December 2003, the government mounted intensive military attack using aircraft to bombs indiscriminately killing innocent civilians.

The military Campaign and Human Rights Abuses
In mid 2003, the Government of Sudan significantly increased its presence in Darfar by arming the Arab militia, the Janjaweed, and by deploying the Popular Defense Force (PDF), The Janjaweed, under the direction of regular government forces, reportedly unleashed a campaign of terror against civilians. The Arab militia engaged in what United Nations officials described as “Ethnic Cleansing” of the African ethnic group of Darfar. Men have been summarily executed, women have been raped and more than 100,000 have been forced into exile in neighbouring countries.
According to the United Nation, once government officials leave these communities, the people are then accused of being rebel sympathizers and are targeted by government militias. The Janjaweed burn village, looted the properties of the non-Arabs, abduct children, rape women, and prevent people from returning to their homes.

The International Response
The international community’s response to the Darfur crisis has been slow and ineffective, in part because of the government of Sudan’s repeated refusal to allow relief workers into Darfur. It was not until late 2003, almost one year after the crises erupted, that some members of the international community began to speak about gross human rights abuses and widespread humanitarian crises in Darfur. According to some analyst, the Bush Administration did not consider the Darfur crises as a priority; instead the Administration was largely focused on the talks between the government of Sudan and the SPLM.
Administration officials were reportedly concerned that forceful statements or measures against the government of Sudan (GOS) could undermine the peace process between the GOS and SPLM. The African Union and the Arab League did not make public statements on the Darfur crisis until the signing of the cease-fire agreement. The U.S. delegation in Geneva had called for a Special Rapporteur for Sudan to investigate human rights abuses. The U.S. delegation declared at the end the of the session in April that Washington will demand a Special Session of the Commission to discuss the situation in Darfur again. The majority of Commission members must support a motion for Special Session of the Commission to be held.
A United Nation delegation was allowed to visit Darfur in late April 2004 to examine humanitarian conditions in that region. Observers fear that the government of Sudan may have attempted to remove evidence that might implicate its allies. According to Press reports, a number of potential witnesses to atrocities were executed in later April. Moreover, the government reportedly issued regular army uniforms to the Janjaweed militia to protect them from prosecution. Some leaders to the Janjaweed were reportedly relocated to others parts of Sudan outside Darfur.

The Humanitarian Situation and the U.S. Response
According to United Nations and U.S. officials, the situation in Darfur is considered one of the worst current humanitarian and human rights crises in the world. Out of a population of 7 million people, one million are internally displaced, over 140,000 have been forced into exile, and tens of thousands of civilian have been killed.
According to Doctors Without Border. “ Because of the lack of appropriate, urgently needed aid, the health of displaced people in Sudan’s Darfur region-particularly children- is radically worsening.” The House International Relation Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held several hearings on Sudan and the crises in Darfur. In 2004, Congress passed several resolutions on Sudan and the crises in Darfur.

Conclusion
What I request from the International Community is that:
1. Call for International protection of civilians in Darfur.
2. Urgent call for the unrestricted humanitarian access to Darfur.
3. Release of all political detainees from Darfur.
4. Call for formation of impartial International Fact-Finding Mission into human rights abuses in Darfur.

*Student, M.A (Previous) Department of International Relations, University of Karachi

All content (C) Department of International Relations, Karachi University

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