Conflict in Darfur, Sudan

CONFLICT IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to call attention to the devastating conflict in the Darfur region of Western Sudan. Over the past 14 months more than 1 million people have been displaced by the scorched earth campaign waged by the Sudanese armed forces and 'janjaweed' militia. The number of refugees grows daily. The situation is hardly improving, despite recent attention.

I am pleased that earlier this month the Senate was able to agree to S. Con. Res. 99, which condemns the Government of the Republic of Sudan for its participation and complicity in the attacks against innocent civilians in the Darfur region. But I must caution my colleagues that we cannot consider this matter over and dealt with. We must keep abreast of ongoing developments in Darfur and continue to look for ways to bring an end to the conflict.

With that goal in mind, I would like to draw to the attention of my colleagues an enlightening article by Laurie Garrett, published in the May 10 edition of the Los Angeles Times. The op-ed focuses on possible consequences of the Darfur conflict which have largely been overlooked. Ms. Garrett explains that along with the horrid campaign of rape and murder perpetrated by the militia, those rapists and murderers are likely spreading disease among their victims and themselves.

When Ms. Garrett speaks of disease, she does not mean the common cold. She is talking about the most vicious and deadly infections known to man. Darfur is located in a region of Africa believed to be the origin of diseases like HIV, ebola, and West Nile virus, to name only a few. The reason we know the names of these diseases is not because they stayed confined to remote villages and tribes of Africa. These are diseases which grew rampant and spread across deserts and oceans to reach the farthest outposts of our Nation and the rest of the world.

While some may have difficulty imagining the horrors of a conflict far away in a remote part of Sudan, it is much easier to imagine consequences on our home soil. The possibility is very real that the rape campaign in Darfur could take a disease, previously confined to a single remote village, and spread it throughout the militia, their victims, and the rest of the world. This is a possibility which should not be ignored.

Along with many of my colleagues, I have worked very hard to combat the global epidemic of AIDS and will continue to do so until we have conquered that horrible disease. Laurie Garrett's warning is that our AIDS effort is not enough. We must do everything we can to prevent another AIDS or another West Nile from ravaging people around the world. Bringing a swift end to the conflict in Sudan will reduce the chance of a new and devastating infection being introduced into the international population.

I praise Ms. Garrett for bringing attention to the role of disease in the Darfur conflict and I hope that her article serves as yet another reminder that we must continue to push for peace in Sudan.

I ask unanimous consent that Laurie Garrett's op-ed in the May 10 edition of the Los Angeles Times be printed in the RECORD.