Doctor's Darfur work earns accolades

WASHINGTON -- A doctor who treats victims of torture and sexual violence in Sudan's Darfur region received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award on Friday.

Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, a community leader who runs a human rights group in south Darfur's capital, was also praised for his efforts to forge peace in the troubled region.

Kennedy's brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., cited Ahmed's work to bring hope and healing to countless victims.

"His remarkable work has aided countless innocent victims of horrendous crimes and unspeakable atrocities in Darfur," said Kennedy.

Violence erupted in Darfur in western Sudan in February 2003, when rebels from Darfur's ethnic African Muslims took up arms against the Arab-dominated government.

Critics accuse Sudan of retaliating by arming local Arab militias known as the janjaweed, and the government is blamed for widespread atrocities against civilians. The government denies any guilt, but the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands has charged a cabinet minister and a janjaweed chief with crimes against humanity.

More than 200,000 people have been killed in the violence, and an estimated 2.5 million civilians have fled to refugee camps in Darfur and neighboring countries.

"We need the people of the United States to support us," Ahmed said.

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On the Net:

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award:

http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/humanrightsawardadvocacy/