Print
this page
Email
this page Resources - Events
Pray for Darfur - 17 September 2006
The Day for Darfur aims to highlight the plight of the people of Darfur and encourage the UK government into doing more to address it. The day is being marked in dozens of countries around the world. Several events will be happening throughout the day across the UK.
One of the main events will be the ‘Pray for Darfur’ event, which will take place on the 17th September, and in the run up to it. Faith leaders from different faith groups will be praying outside Downing Street on the day but we also hope local groups will get involved to mark the day, both by praying at religious services around the country, and by contacting their local MP’s.
Why you should care:
- Since 2003, Darfur in Western Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict. Several hundred thousand people have been killed or seriously injured. Women continue to be attacked and child soldiers are being forcibly recruited.
- More than two million people have been forced from their homes and live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in Chad; more than 3.5 million people are reliant on international aid for survival.
- António Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has described the situation in Sudan and Chad as “the largest and most complex humanitarian problem on the globe.”
- Governments have been quick to call for an end to the violence, but slow to act. UN resolutions have not been implemented and six rounds of peace talks over almost two years have failed to resolve the crisis.
- With much international pressure, the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was brokered in May between the Government of Sudan and one faction of Darfur rebels. However, deadlines have been broken, and violence has escalated.
- This violence has made it dangerous, if not impossible, for most of the millions of displaced persons to return to their homes. Humanitarian aid agencies face growing obstacles to bringing widespread relief. Some aid workers have been killed, while many others have been forced from the region by the turmoil.
- The UK Government has a key role to play in ensuring civilians are protected. So far the UK have provided admirable leadership on the humanitarian emergency but has done too little to stop the violence.
So please do write to your MP and ask them to ask the government what they are doing to protect the people of Darfur. Your can write to your MP by visiting www.writetothem.com
Editors Note :
The Most Reverend the Archbishop Desmond Tutu has kindly agreed to write a prayer for Waging Peace to use at its Active Faith: A Prayer for Darfur event at the gates of Downing Street on September 17.
Dowload the Prayer (PDF format 733K)
Top
