Examining the role of the UN in bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur
The Darfur conflict is a crisis that began in February 2003 in the region of Darfur in western Sudan. In contrast to the Second Sudanese Civil War, the current clashes are seen to be ethnic and tribal, rather than religious. One side of the armed conflict is composed mainly of the Sudanese military and a militia group called Janjaweed while the other side comprises a variety of rebel groups, notably the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement. The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance to the militia and has participated in joint attacks targeting the black African tribes from which the rebels draw support. There are many casualty estimates, most concurring on a range within the hundreds of thousands. According to the UN the conflict has left as many as 450,000 dead from violence and disease. Furthermore as many as 2.5 million are thought to have been displaced as of October 2006.
The Security Council has taken some significant steps regarding the crisis. In March 2005, under the Resolution 1590, the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) was established. Several of its main objectives were set to be humanitarian assistance, protection, promotion of human rights, and supporting African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Because of the difficult situation in the region and internal problems within AMIS the Security Council decided to establish a joint African Union and UN peacekeeping mission (UNAMID). It was done so under Resolution 1769 which was passed unanimously in July 2007. By the end of 2007 AMIS was finally merged into UNAMID.
It is now in responsibility of the Security Council at TIMEMUN 2008 to examine the role of the UN in ending the crisis in Darfur and think of possible solutions to improve efficiency of not only the UN but also other organizations that are active in the region by helping the victims of violence.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict
http://www.unsudanig.org
http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/sudan/fact_sheet.pdf
