Children's authors call for aid to Darfur

WASHINGTON, April 12 (UPI) -- A group of 14 children's authors from North America, Africa, Europe and the Arab world are demanding action be taken to protect the children of war-torn Darfur.

Mike Berenstain, Judy Blume, Gillian Cross, Anne Fine, Cornelia Funke, Julia Golding and Michael Morpugo joined writers J.K. Rowling, Louis Sachar, Rawya Sadek, Amanda Sthers, R.L. Stine, Tracey West and Daniel Pennac in publishing an open letter Saturday demanding the world take action to help kids suffering in Darfur.

"Children barely old enough to walk, let alone run, have seen their homes burnt and razed to the ground, their mothers raped and their fathers killed. Most are now holed up in sprawling camps, traumatized and living in fear," the letter said. "It is time to change the narrative. It is time to tell a different story. This April many children in Darfur will be reaching their fifth birthdays without ever having known peace. The world needs to wake up. For too long it has let these children suffer. Our politicians need to act on Darfur."

The authors specifically call for the international community to demand an immediate cease-fire, full deployment of the U.N. peacekeeping force, action against anyone blocking deployment and support for a just peace process.