The situation in Darfur remains very grim according to research associate from the Lowy Institute, Tim Siegenbeek van Heukelom. Tim's comments come just days after the outgoing military commander of the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID), Martin Luther Agwai, said "there is no more war in Darfur".
Tim attended the Far to Here exhibition launch in at the Blender Gallery in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Featuring black and white portraits of the Darfuri community and photos taken by Darfuri youth, Far to Here marks six years of the conflict in Darfur. The exhibition represents a partnership between the Darfur Australia Network (DAN) and the Darfuri community.
Tim says that where the government has failed to protect civilians from mass atrocities it becomes the international community's responsibility to do so.
"We need to advocate for more, a new commitment of governments to supply these peacekeeping forces with adequate and critical resources to fulfill our responsibility to protect [civilians]" he said.
While the levels of violence and attacks in Darfur have fallen since 2004, the conflict is still far from over. According to the United Nations, the conflict in Darfur has left 300 000 people dead and almost 3 million people displaced within Darfur.
"The fragile situation in Darfur could easily deteriorate if we do not make timely and comprehensive efforts to achieve peace and justice" said Tim.
"At times the conflict makes it on the media's agenda, only to disappear too quickly" said DAN Sydney coordinator Melissa McCullough. This is precisely what DAN are hoping to change "Far to Here marks a significant milestone for our organisation".
The photos taken by Darfuri youth provide a snapshot of what life is like for Darfur refugees living in Australia. "I like riding motorbikes and woodwork and math" reads one of the comments below the photographs of 13 year old Mohamed.
Many Darfuris did not come to Australia to build a new life for themselves, but rather to continue the lives they once lived in Darfur.
"My dream for Darfur is that there is peace and people can go back and live their lives again" reads one of the captions. There are those who are waiting for peace to be restored so they can return to their lives back home.
Far to Here features not only the faces of the Darfuri community, but the stories behind them. Each photo tells the story of a Darfuri refugee who has made the journey from their homeland to Australia.
"This exhibition is a great initiative to illustrate a hardship that many Darfuri people have endured, hardships that we, the international community, often turn a blind eye to" said Tim.