ACTION ALERT

Darfur , Sudan :  How Many More Must Die?

Background:                                                                             

            Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in the region of Darfur, western Sudan, may die in the coming months unless something is done to end the conflict, provide security for civilians caught in the conflict, and gain unfettered humanitarian access to the region.  Since the outbreak of violence in February 2003, more than 30,000 people  have been killed; over 1 million people have been uprooted with most languishing in camps without food, medicine and shelter. More than 200,000 others have sought refuge in neighboring Chad where they continue to be  subjected to further violence by Janjaweed militia forces from Sudan .    Women and young girls have been systematically raped, villages have been bombed and burned, and water and land resources have been poisoned and destroyed.   

This human carnage is a direct result of violence and harassment against the Fur, Zaghawa and Masaalit black African ethnic groups by Arab militia groups known as Janjaweed, supported by the Government in Khartoum .  The Government  in Khartoum argues that they are engaged in an armed conflict against two rebel groups, the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLMA/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), engaged in armed struggle to achieve full respect for human rights and end the political and economic marginalization of African tribes in Darfur. Historical grievances between the different ethnic groups in Darfur have existed, but the recent and more lethal waves of violence appear to reflect the increasing role played by political and military leaders in Sudan and Chad who exploit local tensions in order to consolidate power in their respective capitals.  While all parties to the conflict have been accused of human rights abuses, the Government in Khartoum bears the greatest responsibility for the violence and also in helping to bring an end to this conflict.

What Must Be Done:

We ask that you write or call (see below) the White House, your senators, your representative and newly-appointed U.N. Ambassador John Danforth and urge urge that the U.S. government press the U.N. Security Council to immediately pass a Darfur-specific resolution that comprehensively responds to the present emergency and lays the groundwork for sustainable peace. It should:

*           Condemn the Government in Khartoum for its participation in a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Dafur, its support of Arab Janjaweed militias, its bombing of villages, and for the administrative and other obstacles used to block delivery of urgently needed humanitarian relief;

*           Call on the Government to provide security for internally displaced persons, and ensure refugees and displaced persons can return to their lands in safety and security;

*           Pressure the Government to provide unimpeded humanitarian access to all regions in Darfur by international relief agencies;

*           Strengthen the capacity of the Africa Union in its efforts to monitor violations of the ceasefire agreements signed by all parties to the conflict, and to monitor human rights abuses;

*           Pressure the Government in Khartoum to disarm and demobilize the Janjaweed militias; and

*           Urge the international community to provide the U.N. with financial and logistical support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including the use of air support.

For further information, please contact Fr. Michael A. Perry, OFM, at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (mperry@usccb.org; 202-541-3149), Nazare Albuquerque at Catholic Relief Services (nalbuque@catholicrelief.org; 410-951-7447), or Dan Griffin at Catholic Relief Services (dgriffin@catholicrelief.org; 410-951-7308).

See http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/callafrica/sudan.htm for May 5, 2004 statement on Darfur and the letter from Bishop John Ricard to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

For Letters, fax a copy to:                                   Or phone:

The Honorable George W. Bush                          202-456-1414

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington , DC   20500

(Fax: 202-456-2461)

The Honorable John Danforth                               212-415-4045

Ambassador to the United Nations

799 UN Plaza

New York , NY   10017

(Fax: 212-415-4443)

Virginia Congressional Delegation Contact Information:

Senator George Allen

Telephone:  (202) 224-4024
FAX:  (202) 224-5432

Web Site: http://allen.senate.gov/  (follow link to send email)

U.S. Mail (use Richmond address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

507 East Franklin Street

Richmond , VA 23219

Senator John Warner

Telephone:  (202) 224-2023

FAX:  (202) 224-6295

Web Form for Email: http://warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.htm

U.S. Mail (Use Midlothian office due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

5309 Commonwealth Centre Parkway
Midlothian , VA 23112

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond (southern Virginia ):

The Honorable Frederick Boucher

Phone:              (202) 225-3861

Fax:                  (202) 225-0442

E-mail:              ninthnet@mail.house.gov

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

188 East Main Street

Abingdon , Virginia 24210

The Honorable Eric Cantor

Phone:              (202) 225-2815

Fax:                  (202) 225-0011

Web Form for E-mail:              http://www.house.gov/writerep/

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

5040 Sadler Place, #110

Glen Allen , VA 23060

The Honorable Jo Ann S. Davis

Phone:              (202) 225-4261

Fax:                  (202) 225-4382

Web Form for E-mail:              http://www.house.gov/writerep/

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

4904-B George Washington Memorial Highway

Yorktown , VA 23692

The Honorable Randy Forbes

Phone:              (202) 225-6365

Fax:                  (202) 226-1170

Web Form for E-mail:              http://www.house.gov/forbes/zipauth.htm

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

636 Cedar Road, Suite 200

Chesapeake , VA 23322

The Honorable Virgil H. Goode, Jr.

Phone:              (202) 225-4711

Fax:                  (202) 225-5681

Web Form for E-mail:              http://www.house.gov/writerep/

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

437 Main Street

Danville , VA 24541

The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte

Phone:              (202) 225-5431

Fax:                  (202) 225-9681

Web Form for E-mail:              http://www.house.gov/writerep/

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

10 Franklin Road, SE Suite 540  

Roanoke , VA 24011  

The Honorable Edward L. Schrock

Phone:              (202) 225-4215

Fax:                  (202) 225-4218

Web Form for E-mail:              http://schrock.house.gov/contact.asp

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

PO Box 62996

Virginia Beach , Virginia   23466                                                                                                                             

The Honorable Robert C. Scott

Phone:              (202) 225-8351

Fax:                  (202) 225-8354

E-mail:              bobby.scott@mail.house.gov

U.S. Mail (use district address due to delays in DC mail from anthrax screenings):

2600 Washington Avenue, Suite 1010

Newport News , VA 23607