Hollywood actress Mia Farrow sees ravages of war in Darfur

ABU SHOUK, Sudan, Nov 7 (AFP) — Award-winning American actress Mia Farrow toured a camp in Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur, expressing her shock at the threats and humiliation suffered by its inhabitants.

Hollywood actress Mia Farrow sees ravages of war in Darfur, Sunday Nov 7, 2004. (AFP).

“Something has to be done about their protection immediately,” Farrow told reporters during her visit as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children Fund.

After talking with women in Abu Shouk camp outside Al-Fashir, capital of northern Darfur, Farrow said the visit had upset her.

“They can’t leave the camp because they will be raped,” said the actress, known for her partnership with director Woody Allen and a Golden Globe award for her role in “Alice” (1990).

Since rebellion broke out in February last year thousands of people have died, children are starving and mass rape and other abuses have become widespread.

Western officials and aid agencies have largely blamed the pro-government Arab Janjaweed militia and government forces for the worst atrocities, and the United Nations Security Council has passed two resolutions calling on Khartoum to disarm the militia or face sanctions.

Farrow, who was accompanied by her 14-year-old son, Seamus, said she had been moved by media reports about the suffering of Darfur people and had wanted to witness first-hand what they were experiencing.

“As a woman and as a mother I was upset, and it will be a small service to bring back even a small story. At the top of the list is safety and protection — a basic human right,” she said.

Some 1.4 million people have been left homeless and a further 200,000 have fled into neighbouring Chad as a result of the conflict, which the United Nations says has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Farrow added that many of the people told her they wanted to return to their villages but could not because of lack of security.

“They really wanted to go home. I have to believe it,” said the actress, adding that “it must be possible to have peace.”