Darfur/ Sudan Petition

Mr. President and members of Congress,

Be advised that we the undersigned strongly urge you to take an immediate action to stop the devastation
of Darfur in the Western Sudan. The World Health Organization says that up to 70,000 refugees have died
in Sudan's Darfur region since March 1, 2004 due to various causes, including diseases and malnutrition.
WHO spokesman David Nabarro said Saturday the figure does not take into account deaths from direct
violence in the conflict-torn region. Nabarro said the number of displaced people in Darfur increased to 1.8
million in September.

A mortality survey has just been conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Sudan's Ministry
of Health in two of the States in Sudan's Darfur region. It concludes that death rates amongst internally
displaced people still surpass the threshold for a humanitarian emergency, underscoring the need for urgent
increases in, and focus on, assistance to displaced people in the region.

1.2 million people in Darfur region have fled their villages and are camped in 129 settlements across an area
the size of France. The "crude mortality rate" that is usually used to define a humanitarian crisis is one death
per 10,000 people per day. The WHO survey found the crude mortality rate to be 1.5 deaths per 10,000
people per day in North Darfur, and 2.9 in West Darfur. The survey looked at overall deaths and their causes
between 15 June and 15 August 2004. Results show that displaced people, in North and West Darfur are
dying at between three and six times the expected rate.

Those who have remained in Darfur are still under the threat of the Janjaweed rebel attacks. Three out of every four villages have been destroyed. The Janjaweed (also known as Janjuweed, Janjawid or Jingaweit) are an armed militia group in Darfur composed of a number of different tribes, in western Sudan, who are funded by outside interests. Since 2003 it has been one of the principal actors in the increasingly bloody Darfur conflict. Janjaweed, translates as "a man with a horse and a gun," although it is more usefully translated as "armed
men on horseback."

In some ways the Janjaweed is the successor to an earlier nomadic tribal militia, the Murahilin(literally "nomads"), which had existed for many years beforehand. Although the Sudanese government has disclaimed any responsibility for the actions of the Janjaweed, numerous reports have claimed collusion between Janjaweed fighters and the state security forces. In particular, observers have claimed that Janjaweed attacks on the ground have often been supported by air strikes, from the Sudanese air force.

Darfur is inhabited by a variety of peoples, such as the Fur and Masalit whom are primarily agriculturalists and the nomadic Zaghawa and Baggara, who entered the region around the 13th century. Relations between these groups
have always been tense. Recently, because of these differing economic needs and increasing desertification of the landscape these groups have been brought into conflict over access to land and water resources. Historically, the precolonial Fur kingdom regularly clashed with the Baggara, particularly the Rizeigat. Moreover, from around 1200AD until the late 20th century
Darfur and the neighboring Bahr el Ghazal has been raided for slaves for export to the Saudi penninsula.

The two local rebel groups — the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and
the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) —
accused the government of oppressing black Africans in favour of
Arabs. Hassan al-Turabi was put in jail in March
in connection with an alleged coup plot linked with JEM[3]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3496731.stm)[4]
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3890891.stm), but denies supporting
JEM[5]
(http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BDE0F12D-A1E8-40BA-A522-
A214A30FA0CE.htm), although he
blames the government for "aggravating the situation." The SLA is
generally associated with the Fur and Masalit,
while the JEM is associated with the Zaghawa of the northern half of
this province.


Please consider the use of humanitarian and military aid to Sudan. Military assistance to the AU security forces would be of great value to securing peace in the region.

International Peace Operations Association IPOA is the leading association of private organizations specializing in security and logistics in conflict zones. Please consider their expertise on this matter.