Culture

Mia Farrow Begins Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Darfur People

by Jarrett Martineau | April 27, 2009 at 07:52 am

157 views | 42 Recommendations | 4 comments

UPDATE | 27 April 2009 — Mia Farrow began her hunger strike on Monday, in solidarity with the people of Darfur, and plans to go without food for three weeks.

Actress Mia Farrow began a fast of water only in solidarity for the people of Darfur Monday, attempting to abstain from all food for three weeks.

PREVIOUSLY — Actress Mia Farrow, who has long been a crusader and activist in support of the people of Darfur, will begin a hunger strike next week to draw attention to the ongoing violence in the region.

In a blog post on her website, Farrow made her decision known:

On April 27th I will begin a fast of water only in solidarity with the people of Darfur and as a personal expression of outrage at a world that is somehow able to stand by and watch innocent men, women and children needlessly die of starvation, thirst and disease.

The Darfur crisis deepened on March 4th when the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president President Omer al-Bashir for his essential role in the murder, rape, torture and displacement of millions. Al Bashir retaliated immediately by expelling thirteen key international aid agencies from Sudan, including Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, CARE, Oxfam and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) along with three highly respected Sudanese agencies.

Farrow made the decision after Sudan's government "expelled international aid agencies from the country last month".

The 64-year-old actress and humanitarian says she will begin a "fast of only water" on Monday "as a personal expression of outrage at a world that is somehow able to stand by and watch innocent men, women and children needlessly die of starvation, thirst and disease."

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Paschen

at 08:19 on April 22nd, 2009

Well, maybe out leader will pay attention to a movie celebrity.

jazzyzazzy

at 10:45 on April 22nd, 2009

Good for Mia,She is right in what she says,but are the right people listening,do not think so otherwise it would not be as bad as it is now.Whatever happened to feed the world made millions and helped some of the people fhat was Bob Geldof and Brunos quest to feed the world yet they still starve

Amy Judd

at 12:14 on April 22nd, 2009

Good for her, due to her celebrity status, this stand might be able to make a difference in a small way and grab some media attention.

Pythiian1

at 15:15 on April 22nd, 2009

It's laudable of Ms. Farrow, but I wonder if Sudanese President al-Bashir would even pay attention to her quest?

So far, the UN and some Islamic nations haven't been able to persuade the Sudanese President to change his mind about reversing his expulsion of the international aid workers.