Darfur

This is a copy of a letter suggested by Amnesty Internationalthat we all send to our respective representatives in D.C. to ask them to support a bill that will allow for additional funding to help the citizens in Darfur. Please send one, this genocide has gone on for far too long and people are still being murdered every day.

Dear Senator/Representative:
Thank you very much for your ongoing support for the people of Darfur.
As you know, United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) deployment is well underway. As you will also know, that deployment has been disturbingly slow and under-resourced in relation to the enormity of the humanitarian crisis.
More than 2.6 million Darfuri civilians have been displaced, including some one million children since the conflict began, more than five years ago. Millions more are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance throughout the conflict region—in Darfur, eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.
I am writing today to request your immediate action to ensure that additional funding for humanitarian aid and peacekeeping operations in Darfur is included in the FY08 supplemental appropriations bill.
Our government is currently $334 million short of this year’s expected contribution to UNAMID through Contributions to International Peacekeeping (CIPA). In addition, $50 million is urgently needed to help train African Union peacekeepers transitioning to UNAMID and to provide them with the transport equipment they require to effectively protect vulnerable civilians in Darfur.
Finally, to address the urgent needs of displaced Darfuri and other civilians, an additional $335 million should be provided to International Famine and Disaster Assistance (IFDA).
This additional U.S. funding would make a very real difference to conditions for the people of Darfur and the entire conflict region.
Thank you for your prompt action on this pressing matter.