Darfur: Doing The Very Least We Can Do

I heard a report on NPR this morning about the situation in Darfur. The bottom line is that things are getting worse with an uptick in violence against women as they search for firewood to cook their meals. The protective forces simply aren't great enough to protect them.

I don't mean to sound flippant about the situation, but is it too much to ask to throw some fucking Kingsford in with the humanitarian aid we are sending? That or some other cheap cooking fuel, and yes, I realize that this is probably being done to some degree, but it obviously isn't enough.

Undoubtedly, these women have exhausted the supply of firewood near the camps and thus must travel further and further to acquire it, putting them in harm's way It's not too big of a leap to figure out that this is causing the additional rapes, etc.

I know this is a short term solution to a long term problem, but it would indeed ease pain and suffering in the near term. I just don't get it.