Darfur: Humanitarian Crisis or Media Obsession?
In today's media, one finds much information on the many humanitarian crises occurring all over the world. In particular, the mounting conflict in Darfur has caught the attention of many people, citizens, celebrities, and politicians. In a discussion with Alison Fletcher, assistant professor of history, she sheds light on the culture and crisis that has been crippling the Sudanese past, present, and most likely in years to come. Fletcher teaches the course Crimes Against Humanity.
Question
Do you think the media overemphasizes humanitarian crises?
Answer
There is particular interest in Darfur partly because of celebrity involvement, which helps the crisis touch people emotionally. There is a lot of information in the media, but whether the information is accurate is debatable.
Q
Has the media dulled or raised U.S. compassion toward major humanitarian crises?
A
It has dulled compassion in the sense that many issues are competing for people’s attention, such as the conflict in Iraq. However, in the case of Darfur, Americans have an emotional response, even though they rarely understand the details of what is happening.
Q
What do you think is the most essential thing the U.S. citizens and government can do to help the Sudanese?
A
There are several things that need to be done. The first should be to put diplomatic pressure on the government in Khartoum (capital of Sudan). We also need to make the area safer for humanitarian workers, so they can get aid to the people. Plus, there needs to be a bigger push to make the borders more stable, especially around Chad.
Q
Why is there such an emphasis on Darfur?
A
It is partly due to the idea that we did not respond to the earlier crisis in Rwanda.
Q
Do you feel enough is being done in Darfur?
A
Some people are trying very hard and it is being talked about more than other crises in Africa, such as the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The European Union has just announced it is sending a force. However, the situation remains a humanitarian disaster.
- Courtney Hruska '08, student reporter