[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2975-2976]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 DARFUR

  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, In reflection of the New Year, I have 
thought about what I wanted my New Year's resolution to be. I had a 
wonderful holiday that I was fortunate to spend with my family, and I 
thought about those in the world who did not have that same 
opportunity. World peace is our ambition, but, today I want to speak 
about our hope for the people of Darfur, Sudan.
  I rise to add my voice, and that of my constituency, on the crisis in 
Darfur. Everyday I hear from Arkansans concerned about the escalating 
chaos and destruction happening in Darfur. Whether it is through church 
groups, schools, the newspaper, Internet, or the television, the 
reports from Darfur are shocking and disturbing. Darfur, Sudan, is 
7,117 miles away from Little Rock, AR, but it is not removed from the 
thoughts and prayers of our citizens.
  The statistics on this crisis are heartbreaking. It has been 
estimated that between 200,000 and 400,000 people have been killed and 
thousands of women have been raped. Over 2 million people have been 
displaced. Their lives have been completely uprooted, and their only 
chance of survival is refugee camps. These makeshift camps provide 
little shelter and are subjected to raids by armed militias. Aid 
workers and organizations have recently pulled out of the region due to 
safety concerns, and the conflict is spreading to neighboring 
countries, destabilizing governments that may be ill-equipped to 
integrate an influx of refugees. Moreover, the Sudanese government has 
restricted media and diplomatic access to the region.
  While the United States has taken considerable actions to support an 
end to the horrible violence in Darfur, the situation continues to 
deteriorate. Darfur is the world's crisis, and we must do more to 
ensure that an effective peacekeeping force is in place to stem the 
escalating rape, murder, and destruction.
  I am hopeful that the United Nations' most recent effort will work. I 
am encouraged that so many humanitarian organizations have worked 
tirelessly to find a resolution to this matter. It is my wish that 
peace and stability will come to Darfur in 2007.

[[Page 2976]]

  The people of Darfur have been deprived of the most basic of human 
liberties: the right to live in peace. It is our responsibility as U.S. 
Senators, as Americans, and as humanitarians to do all that we can to 
bring about an end to this world crisis.

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