Category: Blog

***This post contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.***

This is an urgent appeal for the protection of my sister, a refugee mother of five, and my nephew presently residing in Egypt.

I am writing to you today about an urgent situation. I need your help and your voice to save the lives of my sister, her children, and her nephew in Cairo. They have been attacked several times and are currently under threat of being killed. While I have used my voice to speak up against genocide, my immediate family members are not safe today and are under enormous threat.

On September 5th, my nephew, sister, and brother were attacked and had their lives threatened simply because they had reported repeated beatings and attacks on her children by local Cairo residents to the UNHCR. The UNHCR subsequently appointed a lawyer and demanded an investigation of the incidents.

My sister survived the Darfur genocide after long suffering and fled to Cairo seeking protection for her five minor children after her husband was abducted in 2012. My sister E. Ahmadi, her five children, and her nephew S.M. have been recognized as refugees and are waiting for their resettlement. They have lived in Ain Shams, Cairo, for four years now.  However, these four years have not been easy for them.

Today, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that my sister and her children have suffered several violent attacks by neighborhood residents. Additionally, her children have been held hostage on more than one occasion in which she was forced to pay money. This financial exploitation is due to their vulnerability and lack of protection as refugees.

As a result of these constant attacks, my sister, her children, and her nephew have been living in fear for the past two years. In particular, her children have been terrorized whenever they step out of their home. They have been attacked on their way to school, when they went to the market or the grocery store next to their residence, and even inside their home – an incident that I bore witness to during my most recent visit to Cairo on August 2015.

This is not a singular incident; I have also met with more than 100 refugee women, most of whom have reported similar situations to my sister’s. But the attacks against my sister seem very systematic.

After repeated assaults, my family members went to the UNHCR and demanded protection. The UNHCR responded after one year and finally assigned a lawyer to investigate the incidents. However, when the attackers and their families learned about the investigation, they gathered the entire neighborhood (about 50 men), and approached my nephew, and beat and threatened him as they demanded that he withdraw the complaints. When he refused, they beat him until his nose bled. To make matters worse, when the rest of my family and three other refugees came to my nephew’s rescue and implored the over 50 men not to resort to violence, they did not comply and beat them as well. The attackers further threatened them by demanding that they immediately sign an authorization to withdraw their complaint with the UNHCR. They made this demand in the presence of an Egyptian lawyer, who claimed to be representing the attackers. Unfortunately, the UNHCR has no immediate protection mechanism and now my sister and her children are subjected to threats that are made on their lives.

I call on all of you to add your voice to demand that the UNHCR grant my sister, and her children, protection and swift relocation and resettlement to save their lives

We further demand that the Egyptian authority stop their citizens from attacking my helpless sister, her family, and other refugees, until they can be resettled to a safer place.

Lastly, we urge the Egyptian authority to stop their citizens from attacking my sister and other refugees pursuant to the International Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws.

I sincerely appreciate any support that you can provide to save my sister and her family’s lives.

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE.

With Gratitude,
Niemat Ahmadi

By Nick Cabrejos – Government Relations and Outreach Intern

The expulsion of humanitarian aid from Darfur by the Sudanese government is becoming more and more detrimental for Darfuri society’s survival. While suffering has gone far too long and the death toll has climbed everyday the Sudanese government claims that there is no longer a crisis in Darfur, yet the people are constantly living in fear as women and children are being killed and raped every day. To make matters worse, recent weather has introduced harsh rains and floods into the already devastated region of South Darfur. Over 700 houses have collapsed and about 500 houses have been partly destroyed. In the midst of all of these disasters one has to ask, why are the Darfuri people being blocked off from humanitarian aid?

When the UN adopted the international human rights and humanitarian laws it was made clear that in the face of any disaster, man-made or natural, the vulnerable would be fully entitled to live-saving aid assistance. Unfortunately this is not the case in Darfur where the international community has allowed its own laws to be violated by a corrupt dictator. Humanitarian aid has been pushed away by the Sudanese government since 2009 when President Omar al-Bashir was charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Al-Bashir expelled 16 humanitarian organizations which were providing about 75% of the total aid assistance. This left over 1 million Darfuris without proper amounts of food, drinking water, and health-care. President al-Bashir claimed that the government would “fill the gaps left by the NGOs.” While this statement might be believed by some outsiders, the truth is that the Sudanese government has no intention of providing the needed humanitarian assistance to those who he has systematically singled out for killing and this is no secret to the locals. Instead of holding al-Bashir accountable and pressing for more humanitarian access, the International community allowed al-bashir to negotiate the urgently needed aid-assistance while people were left to die everyday.
In spite of the magnitude of the long-standing crisis in Darfur, its is not being reported much by media around the world recently.. Lack of media coverage in this area has been due to systematic isolation of the region, threats towards national journalists, and the blockade of external reporters in Darfur. These obstacles are now accompanied by recent global events taking the mainstream spotlight. For Example: attacks by ISIS, the American Presidential Elections, and even Pokémon Go are being reported on virtually every media source constantly. How is it possible that a catastrophe like the situation in Darfur has continued to take place for 13 years and the world continues to remain silent. It is up to us as individuals to keep ourselves informed and focused on these issues. We cannot allow ourselves to become distracted by the endless amount of tabloid media that seems to come at us from all directions.

As grim as the situation in Darfur is, ultimately it will be the passionate individuals who will create the much needed change. Whether it is through word of mouth, blogs, or the ever-evolving social media apps, this community of individuals will grow to become a force to be reckoned with. It is imperative that we use all of the advantageous tools at hand appropriately to serve the good causes. If our leaders fail, we should step up to the plate and hold them accountable. With passion and creativity we will be able to make an impact, do you see yourself making a difference?

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) is taking a unique approach to fighting and preventing genocide. DWAG believes that empowering the most affected groups and building strong leadership among those who are historically excluded to enable them to lead and foster positive change in their communities is the most vital approach to sustainably ending genocide.

DWAG is currently seeking interested individuals to assist in preparation of its upcoming National Annual Symposium. Volunteers are expected to work remotely within the US, have experience, or be willing to assist in Outreach and Partnership Building. Volunteering will be remotely from now until October 22, 2016. Applicants must be available to work at least 5 hours per week. In exchange, they will receive free admission to DWAG’s symposium.

DWAG Outreach Main Responsibilities:

• Reaching out to organizations and individuals to help promote the symposium and DWAG’s work
• Using social media to share information with as many networks as possible
• Outreach to media
• Video taping and editing

Qualifications:

• Community outreach skills
• Networking skills
• Social media skills (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
• Good communication and interpersonal skills

Great for:

• College students
• Individuals, activists, or those interested in serving a good cause
• Development professionals, retired professionals, or working professionals wanting to use a small portion of their time to serve a good cause

*Orientation and training will be provided.

*Interested applicants, please email info@darfurwomenaction.org

By Katelyn Serpe: DWAG Communications and Movement Building Intern

The political calculus and genocide prevention in Sudan

Sudan’s position in geopolitics; key to Bashir’s survival

                  For more than 13 years, Al-Bashir has managed to effectively ignore all international calls to halt his genocidal campaign. He has also managed to evade arrest from legally binding institutions seeking to stop him. In an era that has seen Saddam and Gudaffi fall from Western action, coupled with increasing pressure on Assad, how is it possible that the genocide case has not been brought against al-Bashir?

Sudan has remained a fickle thorn in the Americans’ geopolitical maneuvering in middle east and Africa. Sudan supported Iraq during their invasion of Kuwait in 1991, yet entered bilateral dialogue with the US in 2000 under the so called counter terrorism collaboration that has made America’s hands tight in responding to Sudan, contradicting the moral stand that the US and its western allies has constantly used to intervene in countries with similar situation such as Libya and Syria. In 2009, Obama published a new law easing sanctions on Sudan, the same year Bashir was first indicted by the International Criminal Court. The location of the country in Africa and indeed as part of the larger Arab world makes it occasionally crucial to international efforts to combat terrorism, while their lifeline to North Africa makes it a pitstop for refugees on their way to Europe.

Meanwhile, Russia remains the largest arms supplier to Sudan, and their weaponry has been documented being used against civilians in Darfur. Despite minor fluctuations, the two countries have enjoyed a constant relationship based largely on weapons purchases. China has become the largest trade partner, notably having a 40% share in Sudanese oil projects and wanting a stable government capable of ensuring a continuous supply.

Furthermore, Bashir has managed to play off the regional powers of Iran and Saudi Arabia against each other, in an effort to solidify his regime in the form of loyalty to the highest bidder. In early 2016, Sudan severed ties with Iran in the face of potential Saudi investment, despite Sudan and Iran signing a military cooperation agreement as recently as 2008. Increasing regional tension between the Saudis and Iranians have made them desperate for allies, and Sudan has demonstrated that it is available for purchase.

It is this reason that there has been no action against Sudan. The 2011 referedum was a compromise that did little to stop the violence, and only made Bashir more resilient in his quest to pacify Darfur through war, and to diversify his international allies so that he may be less subject to their will. Sudan remains an important strategic partner for many countries, and Bashir knows this. Therefore, Bashir has survived by exploiting this fact amongst foreign powers keen for his questionable loyalty, in order to promote their own interests. Bashir knows his government is not particularly strong, nor is his army exceptionally capable. However, the location of the country, coupled with natural resources and competing international actors, have helped him to cement his rule and govern a country deeply divided. By governing through fear, terror and violence, he can force local actors to submit to his will, while international actors will voice little concern so long as he cooperates on an acceptable level.

It’s imperative that the moral and the legal bases of ending the longest genocide in history be prioritize over other political calculus.

By Jahna Paige, Development Intern at DWAG

In commemoration of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we would like to bring to your attention the unimaginable act of torture perpetrated against Darfuri by the Islamic fundamentalist regime in Khartoum. Standing in solidarity and speaking up for these innocent people who have been targeted because of who they are or for standing up for themselves and defending the rights of others.

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5)

“In their minds, often an ‘African’ Sudanese is a second class citizen. He has no rights. And when he has no rights, his torture becomes lawful”.

Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) systematically employs horrendous methods of torture including, but not limited to, beatings and whippings, sexual harassment and violence (rape, injections into male genitals), and electrical shocks. Many victims, including human rights defenders and university students have died while in detention and those who have been lucky to be released suffer from chronic trauma, and in some instances lose their memory.

Stories from the Ghost House

“They came to get me at night when the power was off in the area, and made sure not to be identified by my family. I was taken to the infamous security offices in north Nyala, which is known as one of the worst Ghost Houses in Darfur. The torture was severe and took many different ways such as beating, flogging, stress positions, electric shocks, etc. However, the worst method was when they ordered me to walk barefoot on broken glass and when I resisted I was electrified and fell on it. I still carry the scars from that horrific experience.”

-Ibrahim Abbaker, age 29, an Electric Engineer from Nyala, Darfur

“I was subjected to horrendous methods of torture including sexual torture as one of more than 30 different methods introduced by the Islamist regime. While my colleagues and I were suffering the worst types of torture, the head of the regime announced in a televised speech that, ‘the talk about torture and Ghost Houses is just a nonsense and not true.’ I along with 170 detainees, was being tortured at that moment. The guards mocked us saying, ‘The President gave us free reign because you no longer exist’, as he announced to the world”

-Dr. Mohamed Elgadi

“When they tortured us, they used to play loud music, which we thought was strange since the house was in the middle of nowhere. When I asked about it after my release, someone told me the reason they did it was to make us relive our torture every time we heard music playing”.

-Anonymous

While it has been 19 years since the UN first declared June 26 as International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the fact that countless individuals are still being subjected to torture everywhere and every single day is appalling. Sadly, not every country has ratified the Convention against Torture, including Sudan (only a signatory). In attempt to renew focus on torture, two new documents have been adopted: General Comment of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and a resolution on torture. Darfur Women Action Group believes that any form of torture or other cruel treatment is not acceptable.

This week, on this important occasion please take a moment to acknowledge, speak up, and stand in solidarity with those who have suffered considerable amounts of torture and violence. Crimes against humanity occur on a daily basis: help us put an end to these atrocities

We at DWAG will continue to fight to bring to attention the Sudanese regime’s brutality against its own civilians and demand that the international community must hold accountable those who continue to commit this horrific act of horror and bring justice to the victims.

Imagine that you are only 8 months old and have been taken away from your mother. Or, as a mother, you are forcibly separated from your loving baby? Unfortunately this is the story of 8-month old Hawa Abdalla, a child of a Darfuri refugee family in Jordan who has been re-victimized during the largest deportation wave in history. During this period (Dec 2015), 1,000+ Darfuri refugees have been deported back to Sudan.

Hawa was only an 8-month old baby girl when she was forcibly separated from her mother during the deportation of Darfuri refugees from Jordan. Her mother was crying and begging to be allowed only 30 minutes to take her child with her. Sadly she was not allowed, and forcibly deported back to Sudan, where she remains separated from her child.

Please add your voice to DWAG’s letter to the UNHCR to demand that Hawa Abdalla, who is now one year old, and the many other children who share the experience as a result of deportation, be granted speedy processing of their refugee status in order to be relocated to a safe place where they can reunite with their families.

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