Eric Reeves looks at two recent developments that will “accelerate the genocide” in Darfur:
First, the African Union decided not to turn over the task of securing the region to the United Nations for at least another six months. The African Union, out of its depth in Darfur, has proven unable to stop the genocide; and there is little reason to believe it can do any better in the months to come.
Second, Jan Egeland, head of U.N. humanitarian operations, explained to his colleagues that humanitarian efforts in Darfur are facing a major shortfall in funding. In an internal e-mail sent Friday to U.N. personnel, Egeland worried that “the massive gains we made on the humanitarian front over the past year will be lost, and that the tide is starting to turn against us.” If the African Union’s decision and Egeland’s warning are any indication, the twenty-first century’s first genocide will not slacken any time soon. On the contrary, it will grow worse.
Over at his own site, Reeves has a longer analysis for those interested, which notes that “the lives of some 4 million human beings are at stake” here, as the conflict starts spilling over into Chad.