Darfur Now
The situation in Darfur escalated in February 2003 when the rebels from Sudan’s three largest tribes, after years of economic, political, and social marginalization, went on the offensive against the country’s leadership. The government responded by allowing the armed militia “Janjaweed” to ravage freely in civilian villages and settlements which were thought to support the uprising. The numbers vary, but at a rough estimate the conflict has so far claimed between 250,000 and 300,000 victims, while at the same time around 3 million people have been driven from their homes and now find themselves in acute need of emergency assistance.
The world’s general response to this situation has to a large extent consisted of discussing how to characterize the catastrophe. USA called it a genocide early-on, while China and Russian, countries which enjoy advantageous trading conditions with the Sudanese government, have been more prone to adopt an on-the-fence position.
In Darfur Now we get to follow six people’s disparate struggles to bring attention to the humanitarian situation and to see that justice is served in this very complicated conflict. From the parched forests of western Sudan to the grassroots movements in California and the International War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague, the message is the same: Save Darfur Now!
