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20/08/2004
Sudanese forces 'harassed and brutually treated' refugees
Sudanese military harassed and brutally treated the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Darfur region, in contravention of agreements made to the UN and US, it has been confirmed.
A UN spokesman reported yesterday that refugees living at the Kalma camp in the strife-torn southern Darfur region were attacked and their camp looted during an incident which occurred on August 12.
Briefing journalists in New York, Fred Eckhard said that African Union (AU) monitors confirmed the reports in an investigating of the incident.
The violence began when IDPs at Kalma attacked Arab IDPs from a neighbouring camp, accusing them of taking part in ethnically motivated attacks against their families. An Arab IDP who worked for the non-governmental organization (NGO) CARE-International was killed.
However, the Sudanese military intervened and aid workers were not allowed into the Kalma camp for three days – halting the distribution of relief items to thousands of people. Humanitarian access has since resumed.
According to UN resolution 1556, adopted on July 30: "… the government of Sudan bears the primary responsibility to respect human rights while maintaining law and order and protecting its population within its territory and that all parties are obliged to respect international humanitarian law…"
AU monitors are in place in Darfur as a response to more than a year of violent civil strife that has led to what is widely viewed as currently the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 1.2 million people live as IDPs and another 200,000 as refugees in Chad because of attacks by Janjaweed militias and fighting between Sudanese forces and two rebel groups.
Meanwhile, the body charged with making sure that Khartoum meets its commitments to restore security to Darfur and disarm the Janjaweed militias held its fourth meeting last night.
The Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM), which is co-chaired by Jan Pronk, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, discussed what progress had been made so far by Khartoum. JIM is comprised of Sudanese and UN officials.
In South Darfur, about 6,000 IDPs living in Yara have told UN officials that their village is more secure following the deployment of 94 policemen to the area. Installing extra police in unstable areas was one of the pledges made by the Sudanese authorities.
In a separate development, delegates from the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) - which have been fighting a 21-year civil war in the country's south - are expected to attend a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, next week about landmines.
The proliferation of landmines in the south of Sudan, Africa's largest country, is one of the issues facing Khartoum and the SPLM as they hold peace talks this year that are expected to finally resolve their conflict.
(gmcg)
A UN spokesman reported yesterday that refugees living at the Kalma camp in the strife-torn southern Darfur region were attacked and their camp looted during an incident which occurred on August 12.
Briefing journalists in New York, Fred Eckhard said that African Union (AU) monitors confirmed the reports in an investigating of the incident.
The violence began when IDPs at Kalma attacked Arab IDPs from a neighbouring camp, accusing them of taking part in ethnically motivated attacks against their families. An Arab IDP who worked for the non-governmental organization (NGO) CARE-International was killed.
However, the Sudanese military intervened and aid workers were not allowed into the Kalma camp for three days – halting the distribution of relief items to thousands of people. Humanitarian access has since resumed.
According to UN resolution 1556, adopted on July 30: "… the government of Sudan bears the primary responsibility to respect human rights while maintaining law and order and protecting its population within its territory and that all parties are obliged to respect international humanitarian law…"
AU monitors are in place in Darfur as a response to more than a year of violent civil strife that has led to what is widely viewed as currently the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 1.2 million people live as IDPs and another 200,000 as refugees in Chad because of attacks by Janjaweed militias and fighting between Sudanese forces and two rebel groups.
Meanwhile, the body charged with making sure that Khartoum meets its commitments to restore security to Darfur and disarm the Janjaweed militias held its fourth meeting last night.
The Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM), which is co-chaired by Jan Pronk, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, discussed what progress had been made so far by Khartoum. JIM is comprised of Sudanese and UN officials.
In South Darfur, about 6,000 IDPs living in Yara have told UN officials that their village is more secure following the deployment of 94 policemen to the area. Installing extra police in unstable areas was one of the pledges made by the Sudanese authorities.
In a separate development, delegates from the government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) - which have been fighting a 21-year civil war in the country's south - are expected to attend a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, next week about landmines.
The proliferation of landmines in the south of Sudan, Africa's largest country, is one of the issues facing Khartoum and the SPLM as they hold peace talks this year that are expected to finally resolve their conflict.
(gmcg)
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23 August 2004
Straw begins two-day visit to crisis-hit Sudan
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has begun a two-day official visit to Sudan, to assess for himself the situation in the Darfur region – an area which the UN has described as the centre of the world's "worst humanitarian crisis".
Straw begins two-day visit to crisis-hit Sudan
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has begun a two-day official visit to Sudan, to assess for himself the situation in the Darfur region – an area which the UN has described as the centre of the world's "worst humanitarian crisis".
17 June 2004
Annan to visit Sudan over humanitarian crisis
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced plans to travel to Sudan, after the world body earlier this week accused the Sudanese government of being responsible for the slaughter of dozens of civilians in villages in the Darfur region of the country.
Annan to visit Sudan over humanitarian crisis
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced plans to travel to Sudan, after the world body earlier this week accused the Sudanese government of being responsible for the slaughter of dozens of civilians in villages in the Darfur region of the country.
29 July 2004
UN mission to assess Darfur plight concludes
An observer group of UN staff, Sudanese officials and representatives of concerned countries today wrapped up its three-day visit to Darfur, where local civilians have been fleeing militia attacks, by touring a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region's west.
UN mission to assess Darfur plight concludes
An observer group of UN staff, Sudanese officials and representatives of concerned countries today wrapped up its three-day visit to Darfur, where local civilians have been fleeing militia attacks, by touring a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region's west.
22 November 2004
Darfur refugees to get aid through 2,800km Saharan corridor
Darfur refugees who fled to neighbouring Chad will get UN aid for the first time following the creation of a 2,800km-long relief corridor running through the Sahara desert. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said that it will now send the US-donated relief through Libya destined for 200,000 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad.
Darfur refugees to get aid through 2,800km Saharan corridor
Darfur refugees who fled to neighbouring Chad will get UN aid for the first time following the creation of a 2,800km-long relief corridor running through the Sahara desert. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said that it will now send the US-donated relief through Libya destined for 200,000 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad.
22 July 2004
$200m funding shortfall threatens progress in Sudan crisis: UN
Humanitarian assistance for the crisis-hit Darfur region is under threat from a $200 million shortfall in funding, and a lack of will from the Sudanese government, the UN has said.
$200m funding shortfall threatens progress in Sudan crisis: UN
Humanitarian assistance for the crisis-hit Darfur region is under threat from a $200 million shortfall in funding, and a lack of will from the Sudanese government, the UN has said.
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