Darfuri movements appeal to world to save people from famine

The leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement factions led by Abdel Wahid and Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement have pledged a joint appeal to the international community – the UN Security Council and human rights and humanitarian organisations – to immediately move to save the people of Darfur, including the displace, refugees and rural villagers from impending famine. On Wednesday, the leaders of the movements described the Darfuri situation as famine and said they are ashamed that the international community has turned its back on the two and a half million displaced people facing starvation in a region that has already been devastated for more than 10 years. They told Radio Dabanga that it is the world’s duty to step in and save Darfuri people, particularly the displaced that are at risk of a ‘second genocide’. In the joint appeal, Jibril Ibrahim, Minni Minawi and Abdul Wahid al Nur also reminded the world of the plight of civilians in the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan and Blue Nile also at risk of starvation following Khartoum’s blockade of humanitarian relief. They call for the international community to step in and deliver desperately needed aid to the affected areas. AW: ‘time to break silence’ SLM-AW leader and deputy head of the Sudan revolutionary Front, Abdel Wahid al Nur condemned the World Food Programme for stopping food rations to the displaced camps in Darfur and called the act ‘racist’, by ‘starving people through food refusal over the past six months.’ He told Radio Dabanga it was ‘time to break the silence and recognise that the situation has reached famine, with Darfur declared as a state of emergency.’ Abdel Wahid said he hoped there ‘wouldn’t be two genocides, one caused by the National Congress Party and the other by the inaction and silence of the international community.’ JEM: ‘can no longer deny famine’ Head of the Justice and Equality Movement and deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Front, Jibril Ibrahim said the ‘famine in Darfur can no longer be denied’ and stressed that the ‘international community and organisations working in the area should assume their responsibilities and take immediate action to rescue the people of Darfur. He called on organisations such as the WFP to not reduce rations and urgently distribute food to those camps that have not received any for over six months, before it is too late. Ibrahim added that he believes there is now a conspiracy amongst the Sudanese government and some international organisations to force displaced people out of the camps and disperse them regardless of where they may end up. He said the WFP’s reduction of food rations is part of the plan to force displaced people out of the camps. MM: ‘world must act now’ SLM-MM leader and deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Front, Minni Minawi told Radio Dabanga that ‘the causes of famine in Darfur include the drought and lack of rain over the past two years, along with forced displacement by pro government militia attacks, and shifting people from the countryside to the camps and cities.’ He told Radio Dabanga that the ‘policy of intentionally impoverishing the population has intensified the onset of famine, as the government ha stripped citizens of their livestock and incomes.’ For example, Minawi said that El Mawaseer market in El Fasher is now suffering from pro government militia attacks with 70 civilians typically being killed in a single day. He appealed to the international community to act now to save the people of Darfur this desperate situation.