Join the Million Voices for Darfur Campaign—Call for a U.S. Response to Genocide!

Sudanese exiles greet Bill Sinkford, UUA President, and Charlie Clements, UUSC President and CEO, upon their arrival at Mile camp. MORE >> Photo by Danielle Sinkford

The humanitarian disaster in Darfur has been going on for three years. Some 400,000 people have died, violence has forced more than two million from their homes, more than three million are starving. Despite evidence linking the Sudanese government to the Janjaweed militias responsible for much of the violence against Darfur's civilian population, that government continues to deny involvement and to allow the Janjaweed free rein.

The U.S. and the international community have done nothing to stop the bloodshed—even after 2004, when our government officially recognized what was happening in Darfur as genocide. The only international force authorized to operate in the region are a small number of troops fielded by the African Union, with neither the mandate nor the resources to stop the killing—only to protect observers assigned to monitor a 2004 ceasefire that failed almost before it was signed. The Bush Administration actually cut U.S. aid to this force, although it has been reinstated in its 2006 budget request.

Can we do something to help end this humanitarian disaster? We can. The Save Darfur Coalition, of which the UUA is a member, has mounted the Million Voices for Darfur campaign. In cooperation with more than 150 faith-based, advocacy and humanitarian aid organizations, the campaign hopes to deliver a million handwritten and electronic postcards to the White House and Congress, demanding a more effective U.S. response. We are asking first, for a restoration of and increase in funding for the small number of African Union forces charged with monitoring the 2004 ceasefire; and second, for the U.S. to support sending in a UN peacekeeping force, large enough and with sufficient authority to stop the killing.

Add your voice to those already calling for action!  Go to www.uua.org/news/darfur/congaction.html for more information on the Million Voices for Darfur campaign!

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