A Stop to Genocides

Sara Gilaj

10C

May 27, 2013

“So let us call genocide, genocide. Let us not minimize the deliberate murder of 1.5 million people. Let us have a moral victory that can shine as a light to all nations. -Adam Schiff. Millions of people all around the world have been killed, and no one really pays attention to that fact. Genocides need to be given more attention, because thousands and millions of people get killed and nobody acknowledges the fact that this is a huge problem.  Killing goes on, and genocides continue. Houses are getting burnt, people are getting killed, and refugees are losing their homes. People are getting abused and mistreated, and women are getting raped. Genocides will not stop unless the government puts a stop to this horrible issue. No matter how many people are dying because of this, the government does not want to call this a “genocide.” This issue needs to be given a lot more attention because it is deadly, heartbreaking, and tragic.

Not only are thousands of people getting killed, but so many refugees are getting misplaced and hurt. So many people have to fly out of their countries, their own homes where they are supposed to feel secure, in order to stay safe. Genocides start a lot based on religions, and race. This genocide in Darfur in particular started because the Sudan Liberation Army went up against the Sudanese government because of the marginalization of the area, and because of the failure of being protected by nomads. The government released the Janjaweed (the Arab militias) and forced them to attack hundreds of villages in Darfur, and killed thousands of people. This then lead to a genocide in 2003, which killed about 300,000 to 400,000 people. In Sudan, approximately 2 million refugees were lost. Not enough refugees receive aid when under attack, and lost their lives. In Sudan, 400,00 people lost their lives. From doing research, a great amount of women were getting treated harshly and continuously raped. Staying in camps and being forced to go out of camps became hazardous for women. Refugees were dying from diseases and weapons, and bombings. This crisis began in 2003, and the genocide spread within all three states of North, West and South Darfur. CMR’s have calculated that 70,000 people have died within seven months, and based on what a United Nations humanitarian coordinator reported, 180,000 darfurians died over eighteen months. This conflict has lasted for more than three years. There were 18,000 in refugee camps in Darfur, whereas thousands of refugees suffered.

Cover of Darfur Diaries, Google Images

I read “Darfur Diaries” written by Jen Marlowe, Aisha Bain, and Adam Shapiro;  which is about journalists who traveled to Sudan to interview refugees stuck in the camps during the Darfur genocide. These journalists experienced a lot at Darfur, and the refugees were hoping that maybe they would be able to raise awareness and get the Darfurians help. I’ve learned a whole bunch about what these refugees went through while they were under attack, and continue to suffer because of this tragedy. So many of them lost their loved ones, and their homes and were not cared for. One refugee said, “The fault of the government in place of trying to punish the guilty, they terrorized the innocent, the civilians. The government burned villages and sent the Janjaweed to kill the harmless women and  children. Many people were angry and joined the SLA to defend their villages and families.” It was so tragic, that people decided to join in and defend their people. One refugee claimed that this fight in Darfur started in 2000 so that they can claim their rights. During the genocide, so many Darfurians were starved by the Janjaweed and hurt by them. There were airplane bombings done by the Janjaweed that destroyed so many villages, entirely. This man named Suleiman told the journalists,” Since independence, the government of Knartoum has been trying to marginalize the bigger tribes of African origin in Darfur. Until now, we are missing power and participation. In the government, in ruling Sudan. We are missing education. We are missing health. We are missing any kind of development for the area (107).” Barely anyone got an education, and there was no aid to help those who were extremely sick. When witnessing what these refugees went through, and seeing the camps and the disaster Jen Marlowe stated, “The impact of the day began to take hold. Perhaps that’s what the singing and giggling had been about- trying to avoid letting what we had seen and heard really sink in. (92)”  The Darfur genocide was a tragic event. Whereas hundreds of thousands lives were lost, and so many people were lost and scared and were forced to fight for their lives. Reading and hearing about what these people through is heartbreaking. In an article, “Genocide in Darfur” it was stated that 400 villages in Darfur were completely destroyed by the Janjaweed. Because of the attack, millions of Darfurians were forced to flee their homes and go to refugee camps. After the genocide, more than hundreds of people continue to die every day, and a total of approximately five thousand people die every month.

Children in Darfur during the genocide in Darfur,  google images

Not only was this genocide in particular heartbreaking, but the Rwandan genocide whereas approximately 2 million Rwandans lost their lives is also shocking as well. Genocides continue to exist, to this day. People continue to lose their lives, villages continue to be burnt and so on. The fact that so many people are losing their lives and are suffering so horribly is so devastating. Darfurians continue to suffer to this day, and will not stop suffering until peace is secured in Darfur. This is exactly why a change needs to be made. There needs to be a stop to genocides. The United Nations first off made a deal that they would intervene more, and they should intervene more when it comes to events like these.  If people all around the world  hear about genocides going on around them, just because it may not be affecting them all that much, they should bring attention to it and try to help out. We as people can make a change, and one day maybe this can stop. Like I said before, genocides started based on racism problems, and religions. And because of this, people are losing their lives. This issue is extremely important because hundreds of thousands to millions people die. The government does not even call this a “genocide,” and barely tries to acknowledge this issue.  Genocides still occur around the world, and it can get worse and more deadly if not brought enough attention to. It’s an extremely sad and heartbreaking issue that should not even be happening, but continues. Because so many people are getting killed, and hurt this needs to stop, and it is very important worldwide. Don’t you think it’s time people stop getting killed, and issues like this get more attention? Lives can be saved, and peace can be brought to all these countries.