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News and Information
UN says Sudan failing on Darfur
| September 1, 2004 |
Monitors are investigating who burned villages in Darfur
A new United Nations report says Sudan has not disarmed Arab militias or stopped attacks against civilians in the strife-torn Darfur region.
The report for the UN Security Council did note some progress, but called for more foreign troops to go to Sudan.
It did not mention or recommend any sanctions against Khartoum, as had been threatened in an earlier UN resolution.
Up to 50,000 people have been killed in Darfur, following a campaign by Arab militias against black Africans.
The violence has exacerbated a humanitarian crisis which has seen one million people driven from their homes.
No concrete steps have been taken to bring to justice or even identify any of the militia leaders
UN report
UN Security Council report (157K)
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The report says despite "some progress" in improving security and helping the distribution of humanitarian relief, "the government of Sudan has not been able to resolve the crisis in Darfur, and has not met some of the core commitments it has made".
"Attacks against civilians are continuing and the vast majority of armed militias has not been disarmed," it continued.
"Similarly, no concrete steps have been taken to bring to justice or even identify any of the militia leaders."
The UN's envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, is set to present the report and his findings to the Security Council on Thursday.
The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, at the UN in New York, says it is being seen as the definitive report to date on the situation in Darfur.
At the end of July the UN called on Sudan to rein in the Janjaweed militia blamed for atrocities in the region, or face unspecified measures.
DARFUR CONFLICT
More than 1m displaced
Up to 50,000 killed
More at risk from disease and starvation
Arab militias accused of ethnic cleansing
Sudan blames rebels for starting conflict
Q&A: Has security improved?
Eyewitness: Life in north Darfur
The UN gave itself 30 days to report on whether the demands had been met.
There has been argument within the UN over whether Sudan should face sanctions.
The report, prepared by Mr Pronk on behalf of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, does not mention sanctions but calls for a "substantially increased international presence" in Darfur as quickly as possible.
The UN and the African Union have been working on a plan for the current small observer mission to be expanded to a force of 3,000 troops and 1,100 police, with a wider role.
So far, Nigeria and Rwanda have each sent about 150 troops to Darfur to guard ceasefire monitors.
Peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels from the Darfur region are continuing in Abuja.
Threats remain
The Darfur crisis erupted when two African rebel factions took up arms against Khartoum in February 2003, alleging they were being ignored by the Arab government.
The UN's emergency relief co-ordinator says life for many thousands of people in Darfur region remains desperately precarious.
Talks on Darfur have been continuing in Nigeria
Jan Egeland said civilians still faced the threat of "rampant rape and killings" by pro-government militias.
On Wednesday the UN World Food Programme (WFP) appealed for $12m (£6.7m) to help feed tens of thousands of young children and pregnant mothers it fears will otherwise die.
Other aid agencies have also been stepping up their programmes - Unicef says it has vaccinated up to 50,000 children against polio in Darfur, sometimes reaching remote areas by camel and donkey.
Meanwhile, a group of six aid workers, missing since Saturday in rebel-controlled territory in the north of Darfur, were said by the WFP to have been released unharmed on Wednesday.
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Source: BBCNEWS |
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