Darfur: Broken Promises

As rhetoric grows around a new U.S. strategy on Darfur with the International Criminal Court's indictment of Sudan's president Omar el-Beshir, this unique report gives a behind the scenes look at UNAMID's (United Nations-African Union Mission In Darfur) failures and finds that the people of Darfur have had enough. After six years of failed peace initiatives and continuing violence, displaced communities of Darfur are ready to fight.

Over a year has passed since the deployment of UNAMID peacekeepers, and the suffering continues. The international community has left UNAMID under-resourced while the government of Sudan blocks shipments and continually undermines its operations. Frustrated and angry, the IDPs (Internationally-Displaced Persons) are turning against those who are mandated to protect them.

"We are angry. Our women and children are still not safe." IDP, Nertititi Camp

"It's never been like this before; they now see us as part and parcel of the government of Sudan." UNAMID commander, Nertiti Camp

"Now that we know UNAMID is unable to protect us, we need weapons to rise up ourselves." IDP Leader, Kassab camp

Stories

March 07, 2009 | PBS Foreign Exchange

Darfur: Broken Promises

More than a year ago, the United Nations mandated a peacekeeping force for the violence-torn Darfur region of Sudan. Two and a half million internally displaced people, known as "IDPs," remain in camps, under threat from government-sponsored forces. Undermanned and under resourced, the peacekeeping force is losing the trust of those it was meant to protect.

Produced, directed and shot by Susan Schulman

Co-produced and edited by Chris Milner

In association with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

February 28, 2009 | The Guardian

Shot at in Darfur

Susan Schulman

Susan Schulman, a photojournalist who was embedded with Unamid peacekeepers in northern Darfur last year, recalls the day their convoy was shot at by suspected government soldiers.