Darfur: The Beginnings

In researching the history of the complex conflict in Sudan, I was rather surprised by the "Retrospective Mortality Survey among the internally Displaced Population, Great Darfur, Sudan August 2004." This report was instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sudanese Ministry of Health (MoH) to determine the deaths per 10,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) per day between June 15 and August 15, 2004 within the most contested, Darfur region. Each, Northern Darfur, Western Darfur and one camp in Southern Darfur, Kalma Camp, were statistically boiled down to representative households who were asked a series of questions regarding deaths and causes of death in the household during the above stated time period.

The reason I enjoy stripping away the sensationalism of over zealous journalists especially when researching conflicts, and going right to the source and flipping through pages of statistical reports that make me question my intelligence, is that, in the end, the situation is so sensational in itself. I think adding clever verbiage around the information actually takes away from it. So here goes:

Obviously the highest instances of death per 10,000 was greatest in Southern Darfur. This was highly predictable considering that the survey team could only gain access to one camp in all of Southern Darfur as their wellbeing had been threatened by the insurgents (SLA, government, Janjeweed...take your pick). But throughout all of the regions of Darfur, DIARRHEA was the main cause of death, not acts of genocide, violence or bodily injury...but diarrhea. This is indicative of poor environmental situations. It is also the most preventable cause of death and makes me wonder why the UN often seeks to use a military presence in African when the situation is generally crying for humanitarian aid. I don't just mean sacks of maize and bottled water, but hand pumps that allow them to access their own clean water for years to come and simple education about personal and food sanitation. It would take so little of our effort.

These people are wonderful people...I guess this all goes back to my not being able to understand why we won't help Africa in the simple ways that Africa needs to be helped. Their IDPs die because of no access to clean water and latrines.