Save Darfur’s efforts to
pressure the administration and Congress
and keep the issue alive
have had a tremendous impact. — Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
BACKGROUND on the Genocide in Darfur
ABOUT the Save Darfur Coalition
In 2003, after decades of neglect, drought, oppression
Coalition was founded at the Darfur Emergency
and small-scale conflicts in Sudan’s western region
Summit at CUNY Graduate Center in New York City on
of Darfur, two rebel groups mounted an insurgency
July 14, 2004. What began as a meeting organized by
against Sudan’s central government. In response, the
the United States Holocaust Museum and American
regime of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and its
Jewish World Service has grown into a network of more
allied militia, known as the Janjaweed, launched a
than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights
campaign of destruction against civilians of similar
organizations with more than 1 million activists and
ethnic background as the rebels. They wiped out
hundreds of community groups committed to ending
entire villages, destroyed food and water supplies,
the genocide in Darfur. awareness and mobilize a massive response to the
thousands of Darfuris. Few Darfuris have been spared the violence, which
atrocities in Darfur. By engaging and educating
continues today. The United Nations estimates that
Americans on the situation in Darfur, the coalition
this campaign of destruction has claimed hundreds
applies political pressure on elected leaders to end
of thousands of lives. As many as 2.7 million Darfuris
the first genocide of the 21st century.
have fled their homes and reside in dangerous internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Darfur, and another 300,000 are refugees in neighboring Chad. These Darfuris are completely dependent on the United
Save Darfur Coalition is headquartered in Washington D.C., with a staff of 25 professional organizers, policy advisors and communications specialists.
Nations and other humanitarian organizations for even their basic needs — food, water, shelter and health care. Approximately 3 million Darfuris still live in their villages, under the threat of bombings, raids, murder, rape and torture.
3,000,000
3,500,000+
130,000,000
Number of Darfuris, estimated by the United Nations, who have lost their homes since the start of the conflict
Number of men, women and children in the Darfur region reliant on humanitarian aid
Number of people represented by the coalition’s more than 190 member organizations
2008 ANNUAL REPORT
The mission of the coalition is to raise public
5 SAVE DARFUR COALITION
and systematically murdered, tortured and raped
In response to the crisis in Darfur, the Save Darfur