The Dying Continues

My first visit to Darfur was in 2004. It changed the way I needed to live my life. I have just returned from my seventh trip to the region. I don't think I have the words to adequately represent what I have seen and heard there.

Incomprehensibly, it has now been more than four years since the killing began. Some experts believe a half a million human beings have died thus far. Others bicker about the exact death toll -- as if it makes a shred of difference to how we must respond. Only the perpetrators dispute that hundreds of thousands of innocent men women and children have been killed, in ways that cannot be imagined or described. It is all the more appalling that we cannot know -- that no one is yet able to count the dead. And the dying continues.

We can, however, know with certainty that more than four million people are dependent on food aid because their homes, villages, and the fields that sustained them are ashes now. We also know that 2.5 million human beings are struggling to exist amidst deplorable conditions in squalid camps across Darfur and eastern Chad. I am a witness to their suffering.

The stories of those who survived the attacks are numbingly similar. Without warning, Antonov bombers and attack helicopters filled the morning skies and rained bombs upon homes and families as they slept, as they played, as they prayed, as they tended their fields. Those who could run tried to gather their children and fled in all directions.

Then the Janjaweed -- government backed Arab militia -- attacked on horseback and on camels (and more recently in vehicles). They came shouting racial epithets and shooting. They shot the children as they ran, they shot the elderly.

I spoke to mothers whose babies were shot from their backs, or torn from their arms and bayoneted before their eyes, whose children were tossed into bonfires. I met men whose eyes were gouged out with knives. Strong women in frail voices described their gang rapes; some were abducted and assaulted continuously over many weeks.

"No one came to help me," they said, as they showed me the brandings carved into their bodies, and tendons sliced and how they hobble now. "Tell people what is happening here" implored one victim, Halima. Three of her five children had been killed. "Tell them we will all die. Tell them we need help." I promised her I would do my best to tell the world what is happening there. In the years since 2004, over and over and over, in camp after camp, and deep in my heart I have made this promise.

In October I will return to the region. People will tell me their stories and again will ask for protection. I will listen, I will take more photographs, and I will keep trying to tell the world what is happening.

The people of Darfur continue to plead for protection, and still no one has come. What does this say about us?

Last week, on the Chad-Darfur border, in a region where genocide is occurring now, we lit a symbolic Olympic flame. The flame honors all those who have been lost, and those who suffer; it celebrates the courage of those who have survived, and is a symbol of hope for an end to genocide everywhere.

We lit the flame again in Rwanda where the agony of survivors is palpable -- and without end. We gathered strength from their strength.

In Kigali survivors expressed their wish to join their spirits with ours as we take the flame to other communities of survivors: Cambodia, Armenia, Germany, Bosnia.

Today, I look at Rwanda and see the abysmal failure of the United Nations and of all the nations of the world. Collectively and individually we failed in our most essential responsibility to protect the innocent from slaughter and suffering.

We look to world leaders and our own governments, and see that they are mired in self-serving interests. What are we to do about this? I tell my children that "with knowledge comes responsibility." Yet our leaders do not reflect this at all.

Most of us do not want innocent people to be slaughtered. Most of us wish others well and hope for a world in which all people everywhere can be safe. Yet in the face of power and politics we tend to feel overwhelmed, so we step aside and attend to our own business. The future of the world, if there is to be a future, surely lies in humility and in human responsibility. Let us draw strength and courage from the survivors of genocide and conviction from the voices of the dead.

After the Nazi Holocaust, the world vowed "never again." How obscenely disingenuous those fine words sound today. As we look at Darfur and eastern Chad -- a region that has been described as 'Rwanda in slow motion' are we to conclude that 'never again' applies only to white people?

I hope that caring people of the world will band together and with one voice demand an end to the terrible crime of genocide.

Comments

[kardwell]

Dear Ms. Farrow:

If there is a particular organization you could recommend that helps the victims of this reprehensible atrocity, please provide the information. I would love to make a donation.

Regards,
Kardwell

[Chrisa]

Yes, the crisis in Darfur is horrible, but let's be honest. We can't nit-pick what nations we want to help. I wish that there was a way to help them, but it would just be another blunder.

No politician will commit to this. At most, one party would send some troops in, and the other party would use it as fuel in their F-ed up political war against eachother. Troops would be pulled out without being able to make an impact, in the usual fashion. It's all politics now. There's no such thing as human life anymore.

[radicalcentrist44]

Does the U.S. just go in unilaterally and become an occupying force? This shows how the UN does not work. U.S. forces will have casualties (Somalia) because even when you are on a humanitarian mission, you will end up doing patrols with troops to secure the area and fight warlords.

[jimpryor99]

If we went to Darfur, the Dems would be the first screaming about how we shouldn't be there.

[happystead]

We call 450,000 dead and 2 million homeless in Darfur a "genocide."

We call 4 million dead, wounded or homeless in Iraq "democracy."

What the world needs know is a new folksinger, politician or, just maybe, a real SUPER power to replace the current one.

Peace to you and yours.

[cct1984]

The events unfolding in Darfur are indeed tragic, but exactly what is it you propose the US do that we are not already doing? Should the U.S. invade Sudan to put an end to the killing? While that is an option, I believe it would only make matters worse, as every Muslim fanatic wanting to get his jihad card stamped would soon be there too. Before long, we"d find ourselves embroiled in another civil war with lots of civilians dying and the MSM blaming the US all the while. Additionally, I find it ironic that many of the very people who advocate rapid withdrawal from Iraq, despite the real possibility touching off even greater sectarian killing, would in the same breath advocate the insertion of US forces into Darfur to ostensibly stop sectarian killing. So what does that leave us, economic sanctions? We"re already doing that. Pressure the UN to take action? We"re already doing that too. Unfortunately the UN is a hollow organization, bereft of leadership and corrupt¦its best days were decades ago. This is the same organization that stood hapless during the mass killings in Rwanda. While I admire your willingness to get involved beyond the usual celebrity penchant for sloganeering, I again have to ask: what are you asking the US government to do?

[dchavern]

What solution is Ms. Farrow advocating? I am missing that. Is it really that "caring people of the world will band together and with one voice demand an end to the terrible crime of genocide." I am not sure that would really do it.

I assume she is implying the need for US military intervention -- without really saying that is what she wants. If so, I would suggest that Iraq, Somalia, Vietnam and other circumstances should be evidence that we need to be very careful when we ask other people's children to stand in harms way in difficult parts of the world. We need to have a very clear understanding as to how we are going to improve the situation there over the long-term.

Even beyond this, events in Iraq and Afghanistan have obviously made it difficult for the US military to commit to yet additional operations around the world. Whether anyone likes it or not, this is a fact. There are, however, other well equipped and professional militaries in the world. I hope -- and assume -- that Ms. Farrow has taken her requests (implied though they may be) to European and other powers that have the capability to help stop the current situation in Darfur. It can't just be the U.S. or nothing.

[SteveWeisert]

The US can't spare troops for Darfur, because our forces are bogged down in a useless, unjustified war in Iraq. If there were no Iraq war, we could sent troops to Darfur, and have troops to guard our airports, seaports, refineries, chemical plants, and other infrastructures that the so - called "tough on terror" Republicans have not bothered with.

[Mariel]

What this says about our government is that, although it talks big about exporting democracy, it only exports it to sites where we have a "national interest." We have no interest in Darfur, even though it is, like Iraq, made up of conflicting religious groups which could be "brought together," in our way of thinking, through war.

Since Christian aid groups, as well as secular aid groups, are consistently harmed or thrown out of Darfur by the Arab government enforcers, not even that "private" option is working. The U.N. is thrown out too, I read.

I told my church group that I think this situation is hopeless. They said no, there are still contacts helping individual victims in Darfur and wider Sudan.
But these are small, although valiant, efforts, and will not help the bigger picture.

Some say, cynically, that this is deliberate "population control." They could be right...a policy of neglect to let excess population die off. But look what population is left remaining after this--the merciless, tough, authoritarian government forces. The genes of violence and repression will win.

Some say it's the "last days". The Bible DID predict that violence would take over the whole world in the last days, and so far it seems that is true.

Thanks for caring anyway, Mia. You get a gold star from an angel.

Mariel

[DICKERSON3870]

I IMAGINE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS THE PROHIBITION OF GENOCIDE TO BE "QUAINT" (LIKE THE ENTIRETY OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS). THE IDEA OF THE U.S. BEING CONCERNED ABOUT GENOCIDE IS SO "PRE-9/11"!

[Striker5]

I think it is an embarassment that we have sat this out. We can not solve all the world's problems, but this one would be relatively easy.

The primary reason these atrocities are perpetrated is because the refugees are, as I understand it, are completely unarmed. This allows the janjiwid to rape and murder with total impunity. The islamists are not a significant military force, just band of cuthroats.

There are several courses of action to stop the genocide, and they all involve putting a violent stop to the murder. The plunderers are not going to stop because we ask them to.

I recommend hiring Blackwater. Yes, BLACKWATER.

In the very well researched and balanced book "Liscense to Kill", author/National Geographic reporter interviews Eric Prince. One of the topics is Prince's proposal is "janjiwid-be-gone", an operational template for fielding aa small, but highly trained force to eliminate the rapists. With their store of vehicles attack helicopters and large pool of special ops types, I have no doubt that they could end the problems Ms. Farrow discusses.

I know Lefties despise Blackwater, but let's be practical. If you are serious about ending the genocide would you rather build a coalition, starting with the political wrangling, then operational and logisitcal planning then coordinating the different national forces, then moving into theater, then starting a bunch of politically correct half-measures? That would take at least a year. We could go faster if we acted alone, but we won't.

OR you could pay Prince a one time sum, they plan and execute the mission and obliterate the janjiwid.

This won't solve the national and cultural problems that created the refugees, but it will put a stop to the hideous crimes we are talking about. A practical solution.

Or maybe a discussion on Bush tax cuts is the way to go.

[dhfsfc]

The posting by procrustes is absurd!

I would like to thank you, Ms. Farrow, for serving as our eyes and ears to the conflict in Darfur. I heard you speaking on NPR about your trip there, and I was mesmerized and horrified. Yes, there are injustices in our country, but not of the magnitude of Darfur. What they all share in common is the indifference shown them by the current Republican Administration, and their mindless supporters.

You have brought this to us, and many of us will be motiivated to try to do something real for the people of Darfur. Unfortunately, I believe that until we elect a Democratic president, there will be no real change in our policy.

[procrustes]

You know, Ms. Farrow, I have this problem whenever I see a column written by a celebrity"and it"s probably not fair, but I envision a bunch of ultra-rich, ultra-privileged people chatting each other up over their iPhones to get/stay attuned to the latest feel-good project. Now I mention this preamble because I wonder why you feel Darfur is a more worthy project than say¦New Orleans? God knows, white America has profound culpability for the people socially herded into the Ninth Ward.

What went on there pre-Katrina, during Katrina, immediately after Katrina and what is going on (not) right now is a human tragedy of major proportions, a model of how easily we the American people are sedated by the quick political fix, how every disaster is an opportunity for insiders to massively profit. Yet, we turn our egalitarian souls away from home toward Africa.

I ask you: What does THIS say about us?

Our collective backside is naked to the world in our loss of interest in New Orleans, showing us to be both feckless and fickle. There is ample opportunity for privileged Americans to payback their good fortune right here at home. Is Darfur more glitzy than New Orleans? Is there more bling to Darfur than New Orleans?

Reagan's "Shining City On The Hill" is looking more than bit tarnished these days, and hasn't the American example always been our greatest lever to influence the world for the better?

Finally, please believe me that I don't mean this to be a cheapshot at celebrity. Why don't you act as a lens? Why don't you get on your iPhone, gather all that wealthy guilt together, focus it on one place (behind the scenes where real progress always happens--not in the Bono, Geldof, Oprah grand statement way) and burn away real structural problems? Create a team of the best minds, sociologist, to develop a plan for a model city from its politics to its musical culture. Show people that Liberal ideas are just what's needed to buff-up our smutty cities.

[suki21693]

People are dying today in Darfur. Dying brutal horrible violent deaths.

"we turn our egalitarian souls away from home toward Africa."
What does it say about YOU that you seem to believe that people who happen to be in the U.S. somehow deserve help and sympathy more than those on the other side of the world, simply by virtue of their zip code?

The poorest, most desperate person in this country has no idea of true poverty. Anyone in U.S. is a thousand times more likely to get the help that they need than a person in Darfur.

dhfsfc is right, your posting is simply absurd.

[Leper]

According to Rush Limbaugh, it says that we are _NOT_ racist. If we were to leave Iraq and deploy to Darfur, then we would be racist.

[mamacat]

Several thoughts come to mind:
it says something about Americans, that so many of them want to help others who are so much worse off. In many ways, people like Mia Farrow and the other actors and actresses who are shocked by conditions in the world, represent the best in Americans.
Thankfully, many self-described Christians are awakening to the terrible consequences for America and the world when bad and incompetent people are elected to office.
Once Bush and the other Iraq War obsessed Republicans are voted out of office, we can start the work of rebuilding America. Using our tax money to rebuild our bridges, levees, highways, schools, and energy infrastructure, will make us stronger. And, once our Army is no longer overstretched in the deserts of Iraq, it will be possible to ask a few of them to volunteer to work with the UN to stop the genocide in Darfur.