Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Fides Service)- “Unfortunately the situation in Darfur has not improved” United Nations High Commission for Refugees spokesperson Laura Boldrini told Fides. “Armed incursions on civilians on the part of the Janjaweed militia continue and the Sudanese government appears to have no intention of improving security in the area. The international community is showing concern for Darfur but they must act quickly and with greater decision ”.
On 26 May at a conference in Addis Ababa donor countries agreed to assign more than 200 million dollars for logistic support for the African Union which is to deploy more troops in the area to monitor the situation more strictly. The decision was reached in response to a call by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who told the meeting: “We are racing against time...in places where there are no African peacekeepers humanitarian workers come under attack”.
One of the donor countries Canada promised 134 million dollars, United States 50 million, Great Britain 12 million, France and Germany 2.5 million each. Today a member of the African Union announced that talks between the government of Sudan and the rebels will resume on 10 June.
The conference is being held at the African Union head offices and participants include AU UN and EU leaders and a NATO delegation led by Secretary Gen. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. NATO said it will guarantee logistic support for the promised 7,700 more AU troops for the mission in Darfur to join the 2,200 already in the region.
The serious humanitarian crisis in Darfur is a consequence of civil war started in February 2003 between two local armed groups calling for more government attention for the area and the notorious Janjaweed Arab militia which have the backing of the government. The crisis has caused the death of between 80,000 and 300,000 people and driven over 2 million displaced people and refugees. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/5/2005 righe 32 parole 373)
