For three years now the Sudanese government's armed force, known as the Janjaweed - literally translated: "devils on horseback" - have raped mothers in the presence of their children, slaughtered men, and destroyed food and water supplies.

According to the website SaveDarfur.org, four hundred thousand have been brutally murdered, while two million have had to leave their homes for fear of the same fate. Even more disturbing is that now, three and a half million depend solely on scarce international aid.

In spite of their compassionate efforts, humanitarian supporters are also being subjected to this violence. More aid workers were killed in the month of July 2006 than in the previous three years combined.

United Nations Under-Secretary Jan Egeland estimates that the monthly death rate will climb past 100,000 if more relief efforts are not pooled to help this defenseless region. Those who have not been viciously slain or displaced are now subject to rampant disease and starvation, while under constant fear of more cruelty.

According to the website, on July 30, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1556, commanding the Sudanese government to defuse the Janjaweed. On August 31, 2006, they passed Resolution 1706, authorizing a peacekeeping force for Darfur.

The Darfur Peace Agreement was enacted in July 2004 between the government of Sudan and Darfur rebels; yet the government persists in backing the Janjaweed, and the crisis has worsened.

The African Union is feeble against these predators. Unless a peacekeeping force is positioned to protect the people of Darfur, and more humanitarian aid can reach them, their future is bleak.

It is up to each of us as individuals to make an effort and take action. Actor George Clooney was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show speaking on his trip to the region and what he saw. He put it eloquently when he said, "This is not the United States' problem; it's the world's problem. So we need everyone to get out of their chairs and help."

You can help by raising awareness of the genocide in Darfur.

Some suggestions made at SaveDarfur.org to help are to organize a presentation, host a rally or assembly, or donate to relief organizations. Most importantly, contact President Bush and your local elected officials, and tell them how significant this problem is to us. Oprah makes this mission effortless by providing the presidents email adress, mailing adress, telephone number, and even sample letters and scripts on exactly what to say on her website.

If we all take a few moments, we can be hopeful of making a difference in the international community. Mothers, imagine being raped in front of your innocent children, or imagine looking into the face of your children as they cry for food you can't provide. Fathers, envision facing a sadistic execution, and being written off as if your life and death meant nothing. Visualize for a moment how you would feel if your home was burned to the ground and your family was left without the strength or resources to start anew.

Ask yourself, "How would I feel if I begged for help from the rest of the world, and no one took notice?"

For more information or to get involved, visit SaveDarfur.org.

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Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College