I actually haven't heard anything about Darfur previous to this. I mean, I've heard the name before, but I didn't know what exactly was going on.I am starting in March of 2003 when the fighting began in the western region of Sudan. It was a confrontation between amid Government forces and rebels from Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement. In April, refugees began to flee to the eastern part of Chad. By the time September came around, there where 65,000 refugees in Chad. The UN estimated that at the utter most least, 500,000 people needed humanitarian aid. On September 4, the SLA and the Government had a "cease fire" agreement. Sadly, it wasn't long before both side accused each other of breaking the agreement. Its sad, they probably just wanted an excuse to continue to fight.Between September 17 and October 7, two appeals for money to help refugees in Chad were launched. Asking for $39.6 million in total.In November, militias allied with the government commenced with 6 raids on refugees in near the Chadian-Sudanese border. The refugees reported that they fled attacks akin to that while they were in Darfur.Then, in early December, another wave of attacks by Arab Janjaweed militias. It involved burning villages and the murder and rape of the civilians. One humanitarian said that Darfur "has quickly become one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world." Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his alarm over human rights violations and the lack of humanitarian access. By December 23, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reveals a plan to build refugee camps in Chad away from the attack ridden border.January of 2004 was spent raising money for the refugees, moving refugees, and an anti-measles campaign. February was spent much the same way except for the deployment of the UN Disaster and Assessment Coordination Team to Darfur.March was all about sending people there and receiving disturbing feedback on what was happening there. April was spent with UN people going there and saying how bad it was. It was just talking about what they are going to about it.
In May, all of they're talking is put in to action. They kept trying to talk the Sudanese Government into stopping all the restraints on the amount of aid coming in. After a while he does cave in but he still has a lot of restraints.In June, Mr. Annan appeals for more donations. Money, food, clothing, anything donors could give. He also stated that he was going to Sudan. He said at a press conference that he would use his upcoming trip to Sudan to press Khartoum to meet its obligations — to protect its civilians and to disarm the Janjaweed. He said the international community must keep up the pressure on Sudan and urges donors to step up their aid. Mr. Annan says the people of Darfur “are suffering a catastrophe” and “terrible crimes have been committed” against them. Asked whether it is genocide or ethnic cleansing, he said, “We don’t need a label to propel us to act.” And he's right, whether its genocide or ethnic cleansing, we shouldn't need to label it. It's a freakin' disaster. That should be good enough for people.While in Sudan, he visited refugee camps and told them that none of them would be forced to their homes unless their safety could be guaranteed. July was a long month full of the pressure to help all the people and stop the Janjaweed. The president of the country agreed to help them and disband the Janjaweed. But he failed to uphold this statement. By the end of July, the UN voted unanimously to have Pakistan and China abstaining, thus paving the way for action Sudan.August was another month of pressuring Sudan, delivering food, supplies, and vaccinations, asking for more money, and trying to protect refugees from being raped, assaulted, or sent back to their homes.
Worries and concerns escalate as they recall a comment saying, "This could all be a prelude to a war of genocide throughout the whole mid eastern territory".At this point in time, this crisis still hasn't depleted... All in all, a really depressing side story to Rwanda.
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