On Sunday, I spoke before tens of thousands who gathered in New York City's Central Park, united in their compassion and concern, to call for an immediate end to the genocide in Darfur.  This rally, one of three dozen held worldwide, was an important and needed effort to help turn the world's collective attention to the plight of the people of Darfur.

Fourteen months ago, I visited Darfur and met some of the heroic survivors of genocide at two camps—Mukjar and Kalma camp.  When the helicopter landed at the remote Mukjar camp, thousands of women and children danced, clapped and sang beautiful traditional African songs.  The people of Darfur have a remarkable generosity and spirit.  It was an awe-inspiring sight.

At first glance, most of the people had a superficial glow of physical wellness - thanks in large part to the brave NGO workers bearing food, clothing and medicine.  However, now, even those necessities are disappearing due to the insecurity in the camps further exacerbating the genocide with even more starvation and disease.  

But what profoundly troubled me - and what by all reports has worsened - is the appalling fear and trepidation that is ever present, just below the surface.   The refugees and internally displaced persons are emotionally wounded and broken. 

All the wonderful people of Darfur want is to love God, their families and friends, earn a living, and live in peace.  Yet, they have had atrocities imposed on them that no human should have to bear.  Just about everyone I spoke with, especially the women, told stories of rape, senseless beatings, and massacres by the Janjaweed and Sudanese militias. 

What is clear is that the victims of Darfur are relying on the United Nations, the African Union, governments who claim they care, and you and me. 

On the same trip to Sudan, I also met with Sudanese president, Omar Hassan El-Bashir at his presidential suite in Khartoum.  Like others before and after me, I pushed hard for the end of the genocide.  I argued, if peace and a fledging reconciliation was achievable in southern Sudan - the other genocide that killed two million people and displaced four million - why not peace in Darfur?

All Bashir seemed to want to talk about was ending US trade sanctions, not the horrific loss of life in Darfur.  The exchange was eerily reminiscent of a conversation I had had in Serbia with the late Slobodan Milosevic after he invaded Croatia, then Bosnia and unleashed the Balkan genocide.  He too was unmoved by the plight of suffering people.  How can such men as Bashir and Milosevic be so devoid of compassion and concern for the horrific pain of their victims?

We are at a crossroads today.  The international community must act and follow through on UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to make certain UN peacekeeping troops are on the ground in Darfur without further delay.  In the meantime, we must ensure that the African Union remains resolute and extends its mission and mandate to Darfur, as it would be unconscionable in the extreme to leave the people of Darfur without protection at this critical juncture.

Other members of the international community need to step up their efforts to help bring peace to Darfur.  The Arab League can play a constructive role by employing all diplomatic means available to encourage Bashir to halt Sudan’s newest military offensive in North Darfur and accept UN peacekeepers without delay.  And while the Chinese government continues to suppress its own citizens’ human rights, they nevertheless can attain some respect on the world stage by standing with the oppressed in Darfur rather than the oppressor, which has been the case up to now.  It has considerable leverage with Bashir and they need to use it.