Peace activists in Dublin today united in solidarity with the people of Darfur.
A candle was lit on the steps of the Mansion House by Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Vincent Jackson.
A group of supporters then proceeded to St Anne's Church, Dawson Street, where they listened to stories on the suffering of those stranded in western Sudan and marked the event with music and song.
Representatives of the Africa Centre, Amnesty International Irish Section, Concern, the Darfur Solidarity Group, Front Line, the Irish Sudanese Solidarity Group, Trocaire, and other non-governmental organisations as well as members of the Sudanese community in Ireland joined the cause.
"The situation in Darfur represents the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in the world at present," said Angela O'Neill, Concern's regional director for the Horn of Africa. "It is beyond belief that it is continuing to deteriorate and that the people there must endure even more misery."
Darfur has been embroiled in a deadly conflict since 2003. Despite the signing of a Darfur peace agreement on May 5th, violence in western Sudan continues to escalate.
Around 85,000 civilians have been killed, more than two million people have been displaced and forced to live in camps, and more than 3.5 million people rely on international aid for survival.
Agency workers say violence in the region is escalating, with many more civilians in danger of being killed, raped and forcibly displaced.
"Amnesty International researchers have uncovered damning evidence that the murder, rape and looting previously confined to Darfur has now spread across the border into Eastern Chad," added Colm O Cuanachain, Amnesty International crisis response co-ordinator for Sudan."