NCC welcomes U.N. resolution to send more peacemakers to Darfur
New York, August 31, 2006 -- The National Council of Churches USA, which has called the ongoing genocide in Darfur "the heaviest burden we bear in the twentieth century," is praising today's United Nations Security Council resolution to send a peacemaking force to Sudan's war-torn region.
"There is widespread agreement, from the State Department to the NCC's member communions, that the civil war in Sudan has produced a genocide in Darfur," said the Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the Council. "When thousands of people have been killed, raped and tortured, it must compel the attention of the world."
The resolution calls for the United Nations to add 17,300 military personnel and 3,300 civilian police to Darfur, provided the Sudan government acquiesces to the plan.
But Edgar said the plan should proceed whether Sudan agrees to it or not. "Genocide is an international issue," he said. "The nations of the world -- as indicated by the Security Council resolution -- want it to end."
The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions representing 45 million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the United States.
For more information, see www.councilofchurches.org
Contact NCC News: Rev. Daniel Webster, 212-870-2252, dwebster@councilofchurches.org