Introduction
Genocide refers to the destruction of a religious, ethnic or any other human group in part or in its entirety (Andreopoulos 35). The term was coined in 1944 and used to refer to an extremely destructive act of violence that led to massive deaths and destructions (Stanton 6). The Rwandan genocide is one of the most awful tragedies and crimes against humanity that have ever happened.
This paper seeks to find a way to make it easier for people in certain countries to speak out against genocide and ask for help. This help can give some relief or bring some peace to the lives of people who have experienced the horrors of genocide.
In addition, it will provide more information on genocide and explain why people have not learnt from its past occurrences and why it continues to happen in places, such as Darfur in Sudan. Genocide is worse than death because of its horrific consequences, such as destruction of human life and the emotional and psychological trauma experienced by victims.
Discussion
Genocide involves the mass murder of people based on factors, such as ethnicity, religion or political affiliation. It is deliberate, well-planned and perpetuated by individuals who are motivated by prejudices, revenge, racism, injustice and intolerance (Andreopoulos 38). For genocide to take place, certain conditions must be present. First, there must be a culture of non-concern for human life in the society.
Secondly, there must be a group that considers others as unworthy, less human and inferior. Thirdly, the dominant group must be composed of criminals and should have support from powerful organizations or individuals (Andreopoulos 38).
The Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994 was a horrific experience for the country. The genocide was characterized by the use of brutal weapons, merciless killing and great suffering (Stanton 6). Machetes and clubs were the weapons of choice used by men who were specially trained to massacre people. The genocide involved illegal squads that received help from the military (Stanton 6).
Whenever the squads experienced resistance or opposition, the military backed them up. In most genocide cases, the killings were directed towards certain groups of people that had rebellious political views.
Killings were mostly perpetrated by governments that exterminated certain groups that they considered a threat to the government. Killings were spearheaded by the military, using government resources and support. The people were killed in cold blood because they were unable to protect themselves or stop the killings.
In Rwanda, local authorities gathered people in places where the illegal squads slaughtered them. People were murdered regardless of their sex or age. Women, children and babies were mercilessly massacred in hospitals, schools and churches. During the Rwanda genocide, more than 60,000 people were killed during the first weekend (Stanton 8).
Unlike the killing of the Jews and the Armenians, the Rwanda genocide was not kept in a secret. Journalists reported the happenings as they had witnessed them. In the villages, corpses were covered with banana leaves to avoid international scrutiny (Stanton 9).
The killers were incited through radio stations to carry on with the killings and urged to hide the corpses. They burnt children in schools, mothers and babies in hospitals, and adults in churches (Stanton 11).
Survivors of genocide are seeking for refuge in refugee camps, the places that have pathetic and highly degrading living conditions. They cannot meet the basic human needs, such as food, clothing and shelter provisions.
Little water is available to the great number of people housed there, and amenities, such as toilets, are scarce. In most camps, diseases are easily spread because of congestion. Children die every day because there is little food available, and their parents have no means to fend for them. Health care services are scarce, and many people die helplessly, while waiting for help.
Some nations have not learnt any lessons from the past cases of genocide. Today, genocide exists because of greed for power and wealth by governments (Peaces of the World n.pag.). In Darfur region of Sudan, genocide is claiming thousands of innocent lives every day. Over 400,000 lives have been lost, and the situation is getting worse day after day.
The Sudanese government is responsible for these cases, as they hired a rebel group known as Janjaweed to perpetuate the killings (Peaces of the World n.pag.). The international community has done little to stop the killings, and this has aggravated the situation. The world needs to unite and do all that is necessary to stop these killings.
Conclusion
Genocide refers to the inhuman destruction of a part of or the entire religious or ethnic group. The worst consequence of genocide is the emotional and psychological trauma that survivors and victims have to deal with during their whole life. Genocide killings are still perpetuated by governments in certain countries. In Darfur region of Sudan, genocide claimed thousands of innocent lives every day.
Women and children were killed and raped under the watch of the government. Genocide is worse than death because of its horrible and humiliating means as well as horrific consequences, such as destruction of human life and the emotional and psychological trauma experienced by its victims.
Works Cited
Andreopoulos, George. Genocide: Conceptual and Historical Dimensions. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1997. Print.
Peaces of the World. The After-Effects of Genocide on a Country and its People. n.d. Web.
Stanton, Gregory. Rwandan Genocide: Why Early Warning Failed. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 1.1 (2009): 6-25. Print.