Background Information

The conflict in Darfur, in western Sudan, has led to some of the worst human rights abuses imaginable, including systematic and widespread murder, torture, rape, abduction, looting, and forced displacement. Since February 2003, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed by both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks, and hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled Darfur as refugees, while millions have been internally displaced. Humanitarian aid agencies are under daily threat from rampant insecurity throughout the region, with some forced to leave due to banditry and attacks on their workers. All parties to the conflict have committed human rights violations or abuses, but the Sudanese government, based in Khartoum, and government-backed Janjawid militia bear primary responsibility for the systematic and widespread human rights violations that have characterized the Darfur conflict over the past five years.

There are currently three sets of obstacles to UNAMID deployment: deliberate obstructions erected by the Government of Sudan, technical and logistical delays with the United Nations and its Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and the gap between the personnel and equipment needed by UNAMID and the amount of resources the international community has provided to the force. Logistical support, such as desperately needed air and ground transport equipment, including at least 20 helicopters, has yet to be provided by the international community, despite numerous urgent calls for this support.