Protect the people of Darfur - Take a stand with us once more in the face of inaction

Dear Supporters, We deeply appreciate your continued support. You are empowering us to continue the fight in ending the longest genocide in history. We would like to share with you some urgent updates and ask for your help to assist us in pressing the international community to fulfill its responsibility to change the tragic reality that exists in Darfur, Sudan. Important new developments: ICC’s decision to halt investigations in Darfur UNAMID cut forces in Darfur Intensive attacks in Eastern Jebel Marr and other parts of North Darfur ICC HALTING INVESTIGATIONS IN DARFUR As you may have heard on Nov 22nd, 2014, The International Criminal Court (ICC) released an official statement confirming the suspension of all criminal investigations in Darfur due to a lack of support from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members. The chief prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda had decided to place a hold on following the leads to all criminal allegations within the region, including Sudanese President Al-Bashir’s evident war crimes, in which he was formally charged with back in 2009. Despite the ICC’s recognition of Omar al Bashir’s egregious crimes against humanity, he has escaped trial and justice for nearly seven years, and now the culprits behind recent atrocities in Darfur, such as the mass rape of women and girls in Tabit, will also go unpunished and free to unleash new horrors upon innocent civilians. Facing both inaction from the ICC and lack of enforcement on the part of the United Nations Security Council, Bensouda divulged that without more support from the Security Council and an active willingness to convict those culpable, present efforts to proceed with investigations would yield no effective outcomes. Many of our supporters believe that this decision should not defeat us; neither should it be seen as Bensouda’s surrender. Rather, the chief prosecutor seems to be issuing a challenge to the Security Council to end its inaction by openly expressing her frustration along with others. Nonetheless, countless tragedies and acts of violence have continuously undermined the security of the region and its people since 2003, therefore we must ask ourselves, how much longer can the Darfuri people withstand this suffering and injustice? 2. UNAMID to cut number of peacekeeping forces in Darfur At the end of last year, following the ICC’s decision to halt further investigation and prosecution of all culpable people involved in mass atrocities in Darfur, the United Nations had also reached its own decision on the matter by cutting down on the already dwindling number of peacekeeping troops stationed in the region. It is alarming to realize how Darfur used to hold one of the biggest fleet of soldiers ever to be on the ground for peacekeeping and now it holds less than half of the troops initially deployed with no lessening of tensions and violence. Conflict in Darfur has reached an all time high recently, which can be observed in the events described below. Without a sizable force on the ground to monitor ongoing terror and brutality, there is less hope in adequately protecting civilian lives. Please see this New York Times article for more information: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/26/world/africa/united-nations-set-to-cut-force-in-darfur-as-fighting-rises.html?_r=0 3. Intensive attacks in Eastern Jebel Marra and other parts of North Darfur As mentioned previously above, violence has escalated quickly following the ICC’s suspension of criminal investigations in Darfur. North Darfur has been heavily bombarded with attack after attack from alleged military troops and paramilitary men. One area in particular has been under constant attack since the end of December. On the eve of the New Year, village communities in Tawila and Funga of Eastern Jebel Marra had been raided by soldiers belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a government-sponsored militia that works closely with the Sudan Air Force. Men, women, and children were chased out of their homes and those who did not escape quickly enough were harassed and beaten, and many more were killed. The RSF continued their rampage until early in the morning of the New Year. Since that day, the villages in that area and those nearby have been destroyed by military bombs, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. The people’s food and water are also targeted as wells and livestock are among the wreckage the soldiers leave behind. Civilians who were fortunate enough to flee unharmed have now been left with no home, no resources, and no help from the peacekeeping troops that remain in the region. On January 5th, Radio Dabanga reported that a large influx of refugees have surged into Zamzam camp, which is open to displaced populations within the region. The camp is located close to the capital of North Darfur and has subsequently been the chosen place of refuge for many of the displaced fleeing from the bombings and village raidings occurring in the Tawila, Eastern Jebel Marra area. Of the groups that have made it to the camp, many among them have supplied that more people are still making their way to the area from the destroyed village sites and are in need of help as well. Survivors who reached the Zamzam camp urged the camp’s leaders to call upon relief organizations and peacekeeping troops for more assistance as they testified that many of those who were still trekking towards the camp may not survive long enough for the entire trip. Survivors of the air raids and village pillaging had to endure days of hiding and escaping with minimal or no food and water because they had to quickly escape the wrath of their attackers. At this rate, how can one camp for the displaced care for those already taking refuge as well as those on the way seeking refuge? This string of continuous attacks on villages in North Darfur will increase the number of displaced civilians at an alarming rate, and if there is no external assistance, the humanitarian crisis in the region will only grow more catastrophic. Source: Radio Dabanga What you can do to help News of the ICC’s decision has dealt a very heavy blow to our organization and supporters. But we must remind ourselves that we need to remain strong and vocal on behalf of the victims and people of Darfur. In order to break the silence and end this pattern of inaction, now more than ever, we must come together and spread across the world the stories of victims and the injustice that persists in Darfur. We must continuously urge that the UN Security Council provide the necessary support that will allow the International Criminal Court to exercise its power to the fullest extent in prosecuting the government soldiers, as well as Sudan’s president for their crimes against the people of Darfur. Although UNAMID has not been effective in its work, the UN has chosen instead to cut its forces down in Darfur and dismiss the idea of reorganizing present efforts and provide additional support to peacekeeping troops, who could be of important use in protecting the lives of civilians. The UN, as an international institution, is accountable to helping all world citizens, and we must not hesitate to remind them of their duty and demand that they engage in the right action where it is needed the most. Now, more than ever, the UN’s attention is needed in Darfur. Please help us remind the world that the injustice in Darfur still remains today without sufficient attention. Lend us your voice once more by sharing the devastating news about the ICC’s decision with 10 more of your family members, friends, and/or colleagues and ask that they help the people of Darfur by signing our petition. We need to demonstrate to those international actors that we will not give up and that the people of Darfur are still waiting for the long awaited justice and protection they deserve after all these years. Thank you for helping us spread the word to raise awareness of the plight of the long suffering people in Darfur. The more people who choose to stand with us, the closer we are to bringing protection to and restoring the dignity of the Darfuri people.