Aid The Victims of Genocide

                                          
Tiffany Delerme 10B

globalenvision.org

 

In History there has been multiple acts of genocide. There has been talk of how genocide shall never occur again, but genocide continues to repeat itself. Now should be the time that we take action against it  in anyway we can to assist countries who are suffering, and have been suffering for a very long time now. The Genocide in Darfur might be occurring still to this day. It is hard to imagine what we hear is going on because most of us have never encountered such things. Just looking at a picture or watching a video can not even compare to how real it is. If we come together to help stop the genocide in Darfur or any genocide for that matter, we could put an end to the suffering of thousands of people.

The Sudanese government is behind the Genocide in Darfur. They tried to marginalize tribes in Darfur thus causing conflict. The government had supplied the Janjaweed Arab Militia with weapons. The Janjaweed, who are militiamen ride on horses and burn peoples homes, and take what they can get.Not only that but they would bomb different areas. Many people had to flee their homes and move into refugee camps which holds over 250,000 refugees.

The Genocide in Darfur began in 2003 and based on what I know has lasted all the way to 2006. The United Nations have taken in refugees to keep them safe, but the number of death’s are still a disturbingly large amount. In 2004 70,000 had died in seven months. In 2005 it was reported that 180,000 died in eighteen months. There has been much more deaths than just in these two years. The U.N has been trying to feed, and aid the refugees of Darfur, but it is not an easy task when there is scarcity of water, and food. They also have some children being educated in the refugee camps.

The Janjaweed did not only kill people but to many women of different ages has raped them. Since there is scarcity in water, and food many women, and children in refugee camps are suffering from Malnutrition. Children have witnessed things that children should never witness, leaving them traumatized. People of Darfur have lost family, and friends, and that is a lot to deal with especially at a young age. In the book Darfur Diaries by Jen Marlowe, Aisha Bain, and Adam Shapiro they all traveled to Darfur to record the situation that was taking place. They entered Iridimi and seen the destruction of the town. They were there to interview a woman named Hassaniya. She had children with her, and she was not in a refugee camp, so they did not receive the little water, or medical attention that they would be able to receive. Hassaniya describes her son’s condition. “The wound still bleeds. He has a problem with his neck. It cannot stay upright. It drops this way and that way. Hassaniya lifted the boy to a sitting position and demonstrated to us the instability of the little ones neck. He cries a lot and he doesn't sleep at night. The boy struggled to look around as flies circled his face, feasting on his eyes and his drool. He was unable to brush them away.” (84). What that mother must feel for son. Him having such a terrible injury, and her own being so minor.

As a student myself I feel that more of us should work together and get involved. One way we can do this is by raising money. There are multiple ways students can do this, one way being bake sales, walks, school talent show’s where people have to pay for admission. Darfur is in need of medical, supplies, and school supplies so children can get proper education.  The money earned can go to Dollars for Darfur. The money earned can help save Darfur.