SHAHID Malik took part in the first Darfur Day.

The Dewsbury Labour MP spoke out about the war in Sudan after meeting refugee children in Downing Street.

They presented Mr Malik with pictures they had drawn of their hopes for Darfur’s future.

Roa Hassan, 11, said: “I think every child in Darfur deserves to be educated as we are. We have the privilege of being really safe.

“The international community needs to wake up - where is their consciousness, where are their hearts? They need to wake up and help.”

Mr Malik, international development minister, said: “The current situation is completely unacceptable. The painfully slow deployment of peacekeepers has led to acts of violence against civilians by both rebels and government forces.

“Humanitarian workers are being needlessly attacked and are consequently unable to help those in need. This man-made misery can not continue.”

There were events in more than 30 countries on Sunday to mark Darfur Day.

In five years of war, 200,000 people have been killed and millions more have been displaced.