Formation of a Relief Effort in Darfur

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Backgorund:

Sudan, and more specifically Darfur, has been the subject of global attention as genocide rips the country in two. Before this, however, the culture of the region was very unique, being the byproduct of extensive British colonization as well as ancient traditions and customs passed down for generations. There tends to be a hybrid culture made up of new and old in Darfur which left the area in a volatile state, unable to stave off the rising religious violence and ethnic tensions. Sudan has been classified as a failed state for this very reason; the government is not able to provide basic functions that a sovereign nation should. In the 1960’s a civil war broke out between the Islamic north and the Christian south. This adds to the already instable region and continues until 1985 when a peaceful government takes power. Unfortunately this peaceful government lasted a short-lived four years until 1989 when Omar al-Bashir takes power, ruling through a harsh Sheria law and renewing the north-south civil war.

In 2001 the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Army are formed in an attempt to reassert the rights of the underrepresented native Africans. Because the Arab minority dwells mainly in the city, and the government is comprised of Arabs, the cities are only areas that see infrastructure improvement such as education, health or transportation. The JEM and SLA begin rebelling in 2003 against the Sudanese Army. The Sudanese Army utilized its technological advantages to utterly demolish the rebellion attempt and then continued to slaughter the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa tribes that began the revolt. There are several reasons that outside forces are hesitant to provide either military or financia...

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... peace will not be possible.

Conclusion:

In order for a relief effort to be successful, three things must be addressed: the lack of locally available food and a reliable clean water source for displaced people, the lack of a stable and representative government and the conflict occurring between the two ethnic groups. If the chlorination of water and the transportation of food occurs then the people living in the displacement camps will receive enough nourishment as well as witness a sharp decline in the number of waterborne illnesses. If cooperation with the government to revamp the current system occurs then a more representative and unbiased regime can be solidified. Lastly if initially separation and then education of the native Africans and Arabs occurs then a mutual respect and acceptance will undoubtedly end the cycle of violence in the region of Darfur.

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