Un Sangriento Cuarto Aniversario en Darfur

Protests around the world mark grim four-year anniversary of Darfur conflict:

For Immediate Release: 27/04/07

Calls grow for imposition of targeted sanctions on Sudanese regime

Protests will take place on Sunday (29th April) in over 35 capitals around the world to mark the fourth anniversary of the deadly conflict in Darfur.

Around the world 10,000 hourglasses filled with fake blood will be turned by activists to mark the start of the conflict four years ago. Events will be staged from Mongolia to Iceland, the U.S. to the Ukraine.

“Four years after the start of the conflict the blood of more than two hundred thousand murdered Darfuri’s stains the deserts of Darfur. The lives of the local population lie in tatters, as does the reputation of the international community,” said Ismail Jarbo, a survivor from Darfur who will be taking part in the events.

The Globe for Darfur, a global network of dozens of different organisations is calling for the imposition of targeted sanctions to force all sides to respect the ceasefire, end attacks on civilians, allow the deployment of an effective international peacekeeping force, and stop attacks on the aid operation.

In particular the group is calling on the U.N. to impose asset freezes and travel bans on individuals continuing the violence and to enlarge the arms embargo.

“The government of Sudan has played the international community for fools and our politicians have fallen into every trap they’ve set. Despite more than two hundred thousand deaths, two million made homeless and two new countries becoming embroiled in the war, the international community continues to delay decisive action. Today we’re saying time is up, the people of Darfur need protection now, ” said Larry Rossin, a spokesperson for the Globe for Darfur.

The situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate with over 400,000 newly displaced people in the last year, including over 86,000 already in 2007. Four million people are now affected by the crisis, which has spread from Sudan into Chad and the Central African Republic, and almost a quarter of these cannot get assistance because of insecurity.

Events are scheduled in the following locations and more are expected to join before Sunday:
Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, Ukraine, USA.

In the last four year the conflict has:

- Spread to two other countries (Chad and the Central African Republic);
- Led to 16 un-enforced UN resolutions;
- Provoked 60 statements of concern from the EU but zero action;
- Killed over 200,000 people;
- Forced 230,000 people to flee the country;
- Cut off an estimated 900,000 from aid;
- Made two million people homeless; and
- Ruined the lives of over four million people.

NOTES:

1. An audio email with a harrowing story of a child in Darfur has been launched on the Globe for Darfur website, calling on UN Secretary General to do more to protect the people of Darfur. You can download the audio from: www.globefordarfur.org/act_now.html

2. Previous Global Day for Darfur events attracted tens of thousands of supporters from around the world. In September 2006, events focused on the need to deploy U.N. peacekeeping troops into Darfur. The second Global Day in December highlighted the use of sexual violence against the women of Darfur. For more information about the events on April 29, please visit www.globefordarfur.org.

1. Video and pictures will be avialble ahead of the day.

For more information on the day please contact:

Europe: Crisis Action: + 44 7957 120 853 or + 44 207 324 4747 brendan.cox@crisisaction.org