Rowling demands action in Darfur

Rowling's Harry Potter series are the world's fastest-selling books

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has joined fellow children's writers in calling for greater protection for children living in war-torn Darfur.

An open letter signed by 14 authors, including best-selling US writer Judy Blume and Michael Morpugo, declares: "It is time to change the narrative."

"The world needs to wake up. For too long it has let these children suffer. Our politicians need to act on Darfur."

The conflict in Darfur, a region of Sudan, is now in its fifth year.

More than 200,000 people have died in Darfur since rebels took up arms in 2003, according to the UN. Two million have fled their homes.

'Caught in crossfire'

Sunday marks Global Day for Darfur, with protesters around the world calling on the international community to take further action to end the crisis.

"The children of Darfur didn't ask for this war, but are living their days caught in the crossfire of reverberating bullets," the open letter continues.

"They must be allowed to be children again. Despite the daily terror they face, they still have hopes and dreams.

"The world needs to act now to give the children of Darfur a future."

Darfuri children have drawn powerful images of the war around them

Germany's Cornelia Funke and RL Stine, the American author of the Goosebumps series, are among the writers taking part. Their plea includes calls for an immediate ceasefire and the full deployment of a UN peacekeeping force.

Human rights groups estimate that more than a million Sudanese children have been caught up in the bloodshed, displacement and killing in the region.

Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Thandie Newton and George Clooney are also taking part in Sunday's global protest.

"Days like this matter because they keep what is happening in the eyes of the international community," said Clooney, a UN "messenger of peace".

"If we all raise our voices the international community will have to listen and respond."