CRS Staff discuss the "Danger and distress in Darfur, Sudan"

ReliefWeb has the story here. Greg Elder echoes the testimony of Eric Reeves. Read on:

n Darfur, security is each individual's own responsibility. Practically every adult male is armed. At any time, day or night, you might be a target for kidnapping, robbery, or even murder. African Union (AU) forces on the ground currently number around 3,200 and are effective at deterring attacks in the locales where there are bases. Unfortunately, in an area the size of Texas, there are an inadequate number of AU forces to protect all Darfurians. In Southern Darfur, the situation is even worse as random attacks of banditry occur more regularly. In the patches of West Darfur where there have been no recent attacks, there is a deceiving calmness. We passed dozens of quiet, abandoned villages whose occupants have become internally displaced people (IDP's). All IDP's that we spoke to told us they could not go back to their homes because they felt threatened by renewed attacks by Arab militia members (also known as Janjaweed) if they did. Many stated that the very same people who attacked them, killed their family members, and raped their wives and daughters were still living in their own homes and villages. Even if the government police wanted to do something about the situation, they are badly undermanned and under-equipped to confront these Arab militias.

Meanwhile, nature takes its course as the violent Militias prevent the IDPs from farming:

The humanitarian situation overall though, is declining rapidly. Most Darfurians were unable to return to their homes to plant before the rainy season began in July. The United Nations has declared the number dependent on food assistance for survival in Darfur will reach upwards of 3.5 million, over half the entire population of Darfur. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed concerns over "large shortfalls" in donors' aid contributions for Sudan in relation to its humanitarian needs, saying it is placing people and the prospects for peace at risk.

Where is the outrage? Why has Western Civilization allowed this obscenity to continue? Exactly how many people have to die before the International Community decides that Sudan has abused her right to sovereignty? Or do the Geneva Conventions against genocide mean nothing? I shudder to think so, but the IC has given me no reason to believe they take the GC seriously.

"I tremble for my country when I realize God is just."----Thomas Jefferson