The conflict in Darfur is in its fifth year. Sudanese soldiers and government-backed militias have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur by waging a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” and forced displacement by bombing and burning villages, killing civilians, and raping women. An estimated 2.5 million people have been forced from their homes and at least 200,000 are dead as a result of the violence. These attacks continue to take place today.

A hybrid United Nations/African Union Peacekeeping force for Darfur was authorized in July 2007. However, because of obstruction by the Sudanese government, barely one-third of the force has been deployed. The Security Council referred the situation to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and the Court issued warrants in April 2007 for the arrest of two men – one a government official, the other a militia leader – accused of perpetrating war crimes. Sudan has repeatedly stated its refusal to cooperate with the Court or hand over the suspects. No senior government official has been made subject to targeted UN sanctions in relation to the events in Darfur.

Please urge members of the United Nations Security Council to take concrete action to help the people of Darfur.

For more detailed information, read our report Darfur 2007: Chaos by Design