Sudan presents a test of global humanity
A decade ago, the world failed Rwandans. Now the lives of 2 million Sudanese are at stake.
How many African lives does it take to get the world's attention? Two months ago United Nations and aid agency officials warned that 1 million people in Sudan's western Darfur province were caught up in the world's biggest humanitarian disaster. With officials reporting "ethnic cleansing" of rebel tribes by Government-backed militia, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan marked last month's 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide by speaking of his foreboding that the world might again fail to intervene in time. The massacres, rapes and burning of villages in Darfur are crimes against humanity, but many more refugees are likely to die in the months ahead. The UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, now says up to 2 million people - as many as died in the past two decades of war - urgently need food, water and medical help. Yet not until this week, and in the face of some opposition, was the crisis discussed by the UN Security Council. One factor was concern that this might jeopardise an agreement between the Sudanese Government and rebels in the south to end Africa's longest-running war. Except for the period 1972-83, Sudan has not known peace since independence in 1956. The signing of the peace deal on Wednesday was greeted with cries of joy and prayers of thanksgiving, and the US-mediated process may offer a model for a settlement in Darfur, but the looming disaster completely overshadows the diplomatic achievement. Advertisement
The Sudanese Government has hindered access to Darfur, where the courageous work of groups such as Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Red Cross has been the refugees' only lifeline. Aid workers' warnings have gone unheeded for months. Mr Egeland said: "We were all late - member states of the UN, many agencies - in waking up to this enormous tragedy." People are already dying of starvation and thirst; water-borne epidemics will arrive with the imminent rainy season. The conflict will prevent crop plantings, meaning only foreign aid can avert famine this year. About $70 million has been donated, which is barely a quarter of what the UN says is needed to sustain 2 million people. The Australian Government has donated $5 million, but Australians, we trust, will make further contributions. The United States, which did much to strong-arm the Sudanese Government and southern rebels into ending their war, has begun flying in supplies. While sceptics might point to Sudan's new-found oil wealth as a motive for intervention, the fact is the US has spearheaded the relief effort. This week the Security Council warned Sudan not to continue impeding aid work and voted to deploy international monitors, which suggests the notoriously indecisive world body at last accepts the need to intervene. Even once humanitarian needs are met, the world has an obligation to remain involved in stabilising a country whose people have been at the mercy of despots, soldiers, disease and starvation for half a century.
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