On March 4, 2009, the Sudanese government revoked the licenses of 13 international humanitarian organizations, directing them to leave the country immediately.
Directly following, the Sudanese government closed down three domestic relief organizations.
Local authorities seized warehouses containing World Food Program food.
According to the World Food Program, four of the expelled NGOs carried out 35 percent of W.F.P.’s food distribution in Darfur, regularly reaching 1.1 million people in 130 locations and 5,500 malnourished children and mothers on supplementary feeding.
What does this mean?
Collectively, these organizations were part of a system that provides aid to 4.7 million Darfuri civilians.
The expelled organizations account for at least half of the humanitarian operations in Darfur and are vital partners for U.N. agencies in delivering food, providing medical care, water, education and other services.
Without these organizations, approximately 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.5 million without medical care and over a million without safe drinking water.
If you’re in New York City attend the demonstration at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. on Tuesday; if you’re in LA visit the camp out demonstration at the Federal building any time this week; if in Boston join the demo Wednesday at Government Center. From anywhere in the U.S.: encourage your house of worship to participate in a “Text the Secretary” campaign (more on all of these events below). And, take action from home by calling the White House at (202) 456-1111.
If you’d like to host an urgent action demonstration in your area, check out this guide.
Activists have been camping outside the LA Federal Building since Thursday night.
Take action from home:
Call the White House today and demand that the administration TAKE ACTION NOW to save lives in Darfur. Put this number in your cell phone (202) 456-1111 and call now!
Tell the staff person who answers the phone that you:
a) Are horrified that the Sudanese government has revoked the licenses of humanitarian aid organizations in Sudan.
b) Want President Obama to lead an urgent, intense and sustained diplomatic push to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid and end the genocide in Darfur.
Comment on the State Department’s Question of the Week: What Actions Should the International Community Take To Resolve the Situation in Darfur?
Faith Groups:
FAITH GROUPS – PLEASE JOIN IN NATION-WIDE CALL TO ACTION for Darfur!
WHEN: This coming weekend, March 20 -22.
WHAT: Congregations across the country will join together in a five minute action during services. Worship leaders will inform congregants about the dire situation in Darfur and the one million lives at risk. Then worship leaders will take the unusual step of asking those in attendance with cell phones to take out their phones and text Secretary Clinton at 90822 asking her to act immediately reverse the expulsion of humanitarian aid organizations. Those without cell phones will be asked to spend those minutes in prayer and reflection for the safety and protection for the Darfuri people.
WHY: Sudan’s President Omar al Bashir of Sudan, recently indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, expelled over a dozen humanitarian organizations from Sudan, placing millions of Darfuri civilians at immediate risk. With the rainy season quickly approaching, organizations are expecting widespread death from disease and starvation as millions lose access to food, water, medicine and adequate shelter.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Contact faith@savedarfur.org if you would like to participate so that we can include your congregation in the list that will be posted on the SDC website. We will then send you materials to distribute to congregants and hand out after serves to encourage further action.
LA:
Join Jewish World Watch, Stop Genocide Now, HOPE, and other activist and citizens throughout Southern California as they make a permanent presence in front of the Federal Building to demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Activists will be present throughout each day and night, but we will be concentrating our efforts during the time periods listed below. Please make a particular effort to join us Tuesday, March 17 for a big push!
Where: Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
When: All Day and Night and these times for higher concentration:
Monday, March 16: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 17: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
** If you stay for more than 3 hours you will get a Humanity before Politics T-shirt!
*** Let us know if you are interested in staying overnight: email i-actinfo@stopgenocidenow.org. We have tents!
NYC:
Join the Vigil Group, New York City Coalition for Darfur, Long Island Action Group, Brooklyn for Peace and other activist groups and citizens throughout New York City as we demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU!
Where: US Mission to the UN, 45 Street between 3rd and Lexington, New York, NY (look for the police booth)
When: Tuesday, March 17: 12:00-2:00
Boston:
Join the Massachusetts Bay Area Coalition and other activist groups and citizens throughout Massachusetts as we demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU!
Where: Boston’s City Hall Plaza, Government Center, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA
When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Bring signs to these events!
DARFUR – MILLIONS AT RISK!
DARFUR – MILLIONS COULD DIE – WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR – ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!
DARFUR EMERGENCY!
DARFUR – MILLIONS IMMEDIATELY FACE:
NO FOOD
NO WATER
DISEASE
STARVATION
DEATH
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
