Rousing the White House on Syria and Sudan - New York Times (blog)

My Sunday column argues that President Obama, whose foreign policy I normally admire, has been behind the curve in responding to the humanitarian crises in Syria and the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Granted, there aren’t good options in either place, but bad options shouldn’t be an excuse for the even worse option of doing nothing.

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

The first photo to the right is of a group I met by the side of the road in the Nuba Mountains as they hiked to Yida refugee camp in South Sudan. That woman was carrying a child in one arm and a huge load that I had trouble lifting — perhaps 50 pounds — on her head. And she planned to walk like that for five days, on a diet of leaves. The census shows Southern Kordofan with a population approaching 3 million, and some 800,000 of those have run out of food and are eating nothing but leaves, bugs and roots. In the coming months, some of them just won’t make it.

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

The second photo is of a severely malnourished child who made it to Yida refugee camp. Once kids get there, they get food and health care, and the UN has dramatically improved services at Yida since my February visit. I’d welcome your comments about what can be done.

My Sunday column argues that President Obama, whose foreign policy I normally admire, has been behind the curve in responding to the humanitarian crises in Syria and the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Granted, there aren’t good options in either place, but bad options shouldn’t be an excuse for the even worse option of doing nothing.

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

The first photo to the right is of a group I met by the side of the road in the Nuba Mountains as they hiked to Yida refugee camp in South Sudan. That woman was carrying a child in one arm and a huge load that I had trouble lifting — perhaps 50 pounds — on her head. And she planned to walk like that for five days, on a diet of leaves. The census shows Southern Kordofan with a population approaching 3 million, and some 800,000 of those have run out of food and are eating nothing but leaves, bugs and roots. In the coming months, some of them just won’t make it.

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

The second photo is of a severely malnourished child who made it to Yida refugee camp. Once kids get there, they get food and health care, and the UN has dramatically improved services at Yida since my February visit. I’d welcome your comments about what can be done.