Jackson County Democrats

Vist the Save Darfu Web Site for the many ways YOU can help. It's been three months since an international arrest warrant was issued for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan—three perilous months for civilians in Darfur that have led us to a new and uncertain moment. When President Obama took office at one of our country's most challenging times in a century, it was not a foregone conclusion that Darfur and Sudan would be among his top priorities. It was up to us to make sure they didn't get pushed to the backburner.

At every tipping point, every moment when it looked like sustainable peace for Sudan might slip off the presidential agenda, you came through. We pushed for a special envoy, and got one appointed. Not as soon as we would have liked, but sooner than would have been the case if we had not all pushed together. President Obama publicly reiterated his commitment to Darfur. And after visiting the White House and speaking face to face with him about Sudan, I believe that commitment is real.

But the reality is that follow-through depends on whether we keep pushing.

Meanwhile, lives still hang in the balance. When I hear reports from crowded camps where millions of displaced civilians struggle to survive, I know we need the president to do more. And he must do it now.

Khartoum's decision to expel 13 humanitarian aid groups in March was a cynical and callous ploy to keep the international community focused on the day to day crisis instead of working for a long-term peace. More than 2.7 million Darfuris still live in makeshift displacement camps, many on refugee rations of only 1,000 calories a day and with little or no access to jobs or schools.

Food aid, water and sanitation, and health services have all been seriously squeezed because of the expulsions. And to make matters worse, the coming rainy season will bring torrential downpours that will block roads used for aid delivery and raise the risk of disease in the camps. The U.N.'s chief humanitarian officer, John Holmes, reported to the Security Council this week that the risk of a cholera outbreak will increase with the onset of the rains.

A U.N. official told me recently that the aid operation might be able to limp along because of the hard, gap-filling work of U.N. agencies and aid groups that weren't kicked out. But he also said things could get suddenly, catastrophically worse, like "putting a match to a cotton ball."

So it's a precarious moment. But the advent of the new administration in Washington and ICC charges against Sudanese President al-Bashir create an opening for progress towards long-term peace in Sudan—progress dependent on President Obama's leadership.

Nearly 100,000 of you joined me and sent President Obama a letter laying out a comprehensive strategy for Sudan. Now we're pushing the president to announce his strategy for finally bringing an end to the suffering. The path to a sustainable peace starts with the White House presenting a detailed strategy, with incentives for peace and consequences for anyone—be it government official or rebel leader—who obstructs peace and endangers civilians.

If we continue our work, President Obama will respond with a plan, act on it, and seize this strategic moment to finally end the crisis. We won't—we can't—let up until he does. Thank you so much for everything you do, especially at times like this when the people of Darfur and Sudan most need our resolve, our compassion, and our energy.

My best,

Jerry Fowler
President, Save Darfur Coalition