Humanitarian Crises 101 Ongoing conflicts in Darfur, DR Congo, Ethiopia-Somalia and more… Presented by: NYMC Genocide Awareness and Prevention Club Ongoing conflicts in Darfur, DR Congo, Ethiopia-Somalia and more… Presented by: NYMC Genocide Awareness and Prevention Club

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Quick History:  1997: Opposition group AFDL with Rwandan and Ugandan support overthrows Congolese government, renames DRC  Soon after, many armed rebel groups form  1999: cease-fire signed among factions - UN security council forms “MONUC” to ensure peace  Renewed violence since 2008 in “North Kivu” province displaced 250,000  Much of the conflict stems from Rwandan genocide and Hutu/Tutsi conflict & fighting over mineral resources in eastern DRC  1997: Opposition group AFDL with Rwandan and Ugandan support overthrows Congolese government, renames DRC  Soon after, many armed rebel groups form  1999: cease-fire signed among factions - UN security council forms “MONUC” to ensure peace  Renewed violence since 2008 in “North Kivu” province displaced 250,000  Much of the conflict stems from Rwandan genocide and Hutu/Tutsi conflict & fighting over mineral resources in eastern DRC

Humanitarian Crisis  250,000 internally displaced people  400 cases of sexual violence per month (just in North Kivu)  December, 2008: Cholera outbreak  The displaced are also extremely vulnerable to easily treatable conditions and diseases such as measles, malnutrition, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and obstetrical complications- MSF  250,000 internally displaced people  400 cases of sexual violence per month (just in North Kivu)  December, 2008: Cholera outbreak  The displaced are also extremely vulnerable to easily treatable conditions and diseases such as measles, malnutrition, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and obstetrical complications- MSF 45,000 die per month -IRC 5.4 MILLION dead since 1998 due to conflict -IRC

“Christmas Massacre”  Combatants of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) brutally massacred at least 620 civilians and abducted more than 160 children between December 24 and January 13 in northern Democratic Republic of Congo. - Human Rights Watch

More info:    Search U.N. MONUC regarding their humanitarian efforts in the region  Communicate with your representatives (e.g. U.S. bill passed cutting military funds to DRC and other nations using children as soldiers)     Search U.N. MONUC regarding their humanitarian efforts in the region  Communicate with your representatives (e.g. U.S. bill passed cutting military funds to DRC and other nations using children as soldiers) 

Violence in Ethiopia and Somalia

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Darfur 5 Years Later Where are we now? 5 Years Later Where are we now?

Statistics  200,000 to 300,000 people have died since the beginning of 2004  2.7 million people have been displaced (310,000 in 2007 alone)  200,000 to 300,000 people have died since the beginning of 2004  2.7 million people have been displaced (310,000 in 2007 alone)

How did this all begin?  Darfur is home to two major groups: the settled peasants who are ethnically African and the nomadic farmers who are predominantly Arab  Climate change/ drought caused conflict between these groups as the nomadic farmers moved their livestock south onto settled land.  Darfur is home to two major groups: the settled peasants who are ethnically African and the nomadic farmers who are predominantly Arab  Climate change/ drought caused conflict between these groups as the nomadic farmers moved their livestock south onto settled land.

Conflict Begins  Darfur is also considered the poorest state in Sudan.  In 2003 the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), two rebel groups, launched a campaign against the Khartoum government  Darfur is also considered the poorest state in Sudan.  In 2003 the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), two rebel groups, launched a campaign against the Khartoum government S.L.A members

The Response  In the middle of peace talks to end a conflict in south Sudan, the government wanted a “blame- free” way to put down the SLA.  Armed and trained the Janjaweed militia to wipe out ethnic groups associated with the SLA in Darfur.  Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit  Khartoum also began a aerial bombing campaign to support the Janjaweed  In the middle of peace talks to end a conflict in south Sudan, the government wanted a “blame- free” way to put down the SLA.  Armed and trained the Janjaweed militia to wipe out ethnic groups associated with the SLA in Darfur.  Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit  Khartoum also began a aerial bombing campaign to support the Janjaweed

Humanitarian Crisis Begins  The Janjaweed are accused of many human rights violations including looting, mass killing, mass rape and the burning of entire villages.  The inhabitants of Darfur were forced to flee, many into refugee camps in neighboring Chad.  The Janjaweed are accused of many human rights violations including looting, mass killing, mass rape and the burning of entire villages.  The inhabitants of Darfur were forced to flee, many into refugee camps in neighboring Chad. After this village was looted by the Janjaweed, they began to burn it.

What is happening now?  In April 2004 a ceasefire was signed by the Sudan government, SLA and JEM  Fighting in Darfur continues between splinter factions of rebel groups and the Janjaweed.  The Sudanese government has continued ground and air assaults without regard to civilians (2008)  In April 2004 a ceasefire was signed by the Sudan government, SLA and JEM  Fighting in Darfur continues between splinter factions of rebel groups and the Janjaweed.  The Sudanese government has continued ground and air assaults without regard to civilians (2008) Fleeing civilians are forced to live in refugee camps like this and are still targets for militia attacks.

What is happening now?  In Sept the UN passed a resolution for the deployment of 26,000 peacekeepers called the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).  Sudanese government continues to resist full UNAMID deployment.  In Sept the UN passed a resolution for the deployment of 26,000 peacekeepers called the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).  Sudanese government continues to resist full UNAMID deployment. A refugee camp for Darfur’s displaced civilians in Chad.

STAND NOW!  Civilian Protection Program: 1.Gives families tools to make an income so that they can afford firewood. 2.Develop and distribute alternatives to firewood (solar stoves, fuel efficient stoves) 3.Firewood Patrol program with UNAMID peacekeepers.  Civilian Protection Program: 1.Gives families tools to make an income so that they can afford firewood. 2.Develop and distribute alternatives to firewood (solar stoves, fuel efficient stoves) 3.Firewood Patrol program with UNAMID peacekeepers. “We…have chosen the risk of being raped rather than let the men risk being killed” -Displaced Woman at the International Rescue Meeting in Darfur.

The Main Event: Darfur Fast Last year we raised $1,000 Can we do it again? Sign up to help Feb Last year we raised $1,000 Can we do it again? Sign up to help Feb For one week people give up something like this.. To help people like this.

Kiva Free Rice

Muhammad Yunus created the concept of microcredit and received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his further work  Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty  Yunus created Grameen Bank in BangeledeshGrameen Bank  “World's income distribution gives a very telling story. Ninety four percent of the world income goes to 40 percent of the population while sixty percent of people live on only 6 per cent of world income. Half of the world population lives on two dollars a day. Over one billion people live on less than a dollar a day. This is no formula for peace.” – M. Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize lecture

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