trainforhumanity.org - racing to make a difference

(Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Susan Burgess-Lent of the Darfur Peace and Development Organization)

After five and a half years of genocidal predations in Darfur, it may appear that nothing is being done to end the crisis. This would be a correct assumption, both in terms of political response and in terms of media coverage.

Recent major developments include the first indictment of a sitting president (Sudan’s Omer Bashir) on crimes against humanity, a coup attempt in Khartoum, the murder by government forces of at least 37 civilians in Darfur’s largest camp for Internally Displaced Persons, and the renewed bombing of villages in North Darfur. Where but on BBC can you see this news in America?

The Government of Sudan has tried to buy inroads into US policy with an offer of oil concessions in Darfur. The shooting match has begun over whether it would be a good idea to forget about Bashir’s indictment for the time being – that it somehow interferes with the imaginary peace process.

After a promise of 26,000 peacekeepers, barely 9,000 are deployed in Darfur. They have a lot of trouble getting around because the world’s military powers were not able to spare more than three helicopters. Despite the peacekeepers’ management change from African Union to UN, there has been no improvement on the ground in security and protection. It is, in fact, deteriorating.

Meanwhile, a lot of people and organizations are dug in with comfortable incomes, or a cause celebre, as long as the conflict continues.

Too many journalists remain uninformed of the momentous implications — for many global issues — of the Darfur crisis. They fail to recognize the pieces of a vast, complex cautionary tale for our time, playing out in lives needlessly lost. The few journalists who do see “breaking news” in Darfur often can’t get it past their producers or editors.

External Aid

The US government has provided $3 billion dollars in aid to Darfur since 2004, much of it in donated food staples. One result is nearly 3 million Darfuris who will be “food-aid dependent” for several years.

Many countries funnel their relief funds through a UN-controlled pipeline known as the Common Humanitarian Fund. In 2008, the CHF distributed nearly $30 million for programs in Darfur. Only $50,000 - just .2% - went to Darfuri organizations. The UN‘s agencies and major INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations) like CARE and Save the Children took the lion’s share. After 5 years, “capacity building” within indigenous organization is still a myth.

In practice, Darfuri organizations working shoulder to shoulder with their international counterparts are often treated like backward outsiders in their own country.

In their September situation report, the U.S. Agency for International Development USAID writes “ …partners have noted problematic indicators and signs of reduced coping mechanisms in affected communities, including increased food prices, decreased amounts of food in markets, and an increase in day laborers trying to earn money to buy food.”

The Sudanese are supremely adaptable and inventive people. Consider that it’s taken a full five years to wear them to a desolate wash of humanity. One wonders how much the Darfuris must endure before they are irretrievably broken. This end would suit perfectly the desires of Sudan’s ruling regime.

A recent posting of a video of DPDO’s Schools of Peace brought this response:

“For pete’s sake somebody needs to help Darfur.”

Of course, that “somebody” should well be the writer — and anyone who cares that fellow human beings are being slaughtered, raped and left homeless over a real estate dispute, an ideologically motivated land grab by greedy men with no interest in governing beyond amassing power and personal wealth.

What to do?

Effective programs have been launched by Darfuri humanitarian organizations. This is where the best response can be directed. Strengthening Darfuri leadership and organizations strengthens the health, education and livelihoods of families - the heart of the culture. Peace can come only from this.

If the situation were reversed – if you lived under a tarp drinking dirty water, on a 1500 calorie/day diet (if that), with no defense against marauding militia, you’d want a few committed helpers on your side while you set things right. Individually and collectively, we have to be those helpers.

We don’t have the luxury of claiming compassion-fatigue over Darfur. Time runs short for the survivors.

Susan Burgess-Lent is Program Director of Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO), a Darfuri-led non-profit that supports fifteen elementary schools, a women’s center, and solar cooker training in Darfur camps and towns. She can be reached at Susan@DarfurPeace.org