There are solutions to the tragic situation in Darfur
Originally published in Buffalo High School's Hoofprint newspaper on November 6, 2008.
It's been 67 years since the Holocaust, and the after statement of "Never again" is still not being upheld. Death has hung like a vulture over the non-Arab black Africans of Darfur, and now it has spread like a virus throughout the rest of Sudan. When the genocide started, there were about three or four rebel groups involved in the conflict. Now, UN peacekeepers are reporting that they have no idea just how many there are. Although the American government originally expressed concern towards the conflict, it has gradually abandoned the people who are murdered, raped, and tortured every day.
America needs to come down harder on the Sudanese government for their crimes against humanity. Sudanese government and rebel groups alike have repeatedly dishonored peace agreements and ceasefires to which they agreed. The government in Khartoum has made it nearly impossible for reporters and aid workers to enter Sudan, and those that do enter have been assaulted or intimidated; their vehicles stolen and robbed.
The American government needs to put more pressure on other countries to stop trade with the Sudanese government. China is heavily invested in Sudan's oil, and has been trading weapons for it. China therefore has a great amount of leverage when it comes to Sudan, although as of yet they have exercised very little of it.
Another way America can help is to provide aid helicopters to help UN peacekeepers in Sudan. Since January 2007, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed the need for helicopters to U.S. officials, but "no member state has come forward to provide these vital assets." Meanwhile, janjaweed militia are painting their helicopters white--the color of UN humanitarian aircraft--and bombing villages.
While it's true that President George W. Bush did label the conflict as genocide, and has continually warned the Sudanese government that strict actions would be taken if the mass killings were to continue, he has not followed through with those threats. Instead, he's called for more UN troops to take care of the situation--troops who are allowed to fire a weapon only when threatened. The UN hasn't been able to stop the genocide yet, and without more support, it might not ever be able to stop the killings.
In one sense, it's understandable that the American government wouldn't be concerned about the genocide that 62% of Americans believe the U.S. has a responsibility to end, according to a Zogby International poll. After all, we are currently involved in two wars--one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. But if we really did invade Iraq for oil, we did so needlessly: Sudan actually has a higher percentage of oil that Iraq and Afghanistan.
We wouldn't necessarily have to start a war in Sudan, either. Helping another country doesn't mean you have to bomb the side you don't agree with. When genocide ravaged Rwanda in 1994, Paul Rusesabagina aided the Tutsi minority by allowing them to take shelter in his hotel, rather than adding to the chaos by picking up a gun.
America--not to mention other countries closer to Africa--could provide the same kind of protection by allowing sanctuary for Darfur refugees for a specified amount of time. This sanctuary could be monitored by the government in order to banish any fears Americans might have of starving Darfurians becoming illegal aliens.
They could also encourage American citizens to provide aid in any way they can, whether it be divesting their financial holdings from companies involved in harmful business with the Sudanese regime, or becoming one of the brave aid workers that risk life and limb if only to save one life.
These solutions might raise taxes, which I know is something Americans are worred about in the upcoming election. However, taxes are what allows this government to work efficiently. Therefore, we all need to ask ourselves the same question Oscar Schindler asked: "How much is one life worth to you?"
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"I look at you all
see the love
there, that's sleeping
while my guitar gently weeps." --George Harrison
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Published Date
11/6/2008 12:00:00 AM
Published In
Buffalo High School's "Hoofprint" newspaper
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