Press Release
June From the Department for International
Development
8 June 2004
UK Presses Sudan Government for Urgent
Action on Darfur
The UK Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn
today told the Sudan Government of the urgent need to respond to the
humanitarian emergency in Darfur. He welcomed commitments by the
Government of Sudan to fast-track procedures for agencies to bring in
food, medicine and vital supplies to the two million war affected people
in Darfur, and impressed on them the need to improve security immediately.
Speaking in Khartoum after visiting three displaced persons camps in
South and North Darfur, he called for international agencies, donors and
NGOs to do more and announced a further increase in UK aid of £15
million, making a total of £36.5 million since September 2003. This
includes more relief supplies, support for UN agencies, NGOs and the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and £2 million for the
African Union Ceasefire Monitors who are now beginning to deploy. The UK
will also fund a team of UN human rights monitors.
Hilary Benn said:
"This visit has confirmed the grave situation in Darfur. This is
the most serious humanitarian emergency in the world today. The UK is
committed to do all we can to help. I can announce today a further £15m
of UK humanitarian aid, bringing our total allocation since September
2003 to £36.5m.
"We need urgent and decisive action to stop the situation
deteriorating. The Sudanese Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs and have
today given me a firm commitment to fast-track the delivery of
assistance, to allow international agencies to set up and bring in food,
medicine and vital equipments immediately. We will be following up on
their effective implementation.
"Action must also now be taken to bring irregular forces and
militias under control. The Government of Sudan needs to take steps
immediately to provide security to Darfurians who told me yesterday that
they will not return home until they feel it is safe to do so.
"I wholeheartedly welcome the deployment of the AU ceasefire
monitors whom I met in El Fasher yesterday. They are preparing to locate
120 monitors across South, West and North Darfur. We are contributing
£2m to support the AU mission. In addition, the UK will fund a team of
UN human rights monitors to investigate and report on allegations of
human rights' abuses in Darfur.
"In the end, this is a crisis that must have a political - not a
military - solution. The protocols signed in Naivasha provide a basis
for addressing the problems of Darfur.
"I congratulate those involved negotiating the Naivasha
framework agreement in getting to this point - I know it has been a
difficult journey - and encourage the new partners not only to reach a
comprehensive agreement in the next few months but to ensure it is
implemented fully.
"I also call on all parties involved in the conflict to engage
now in discussions to find a political solution. Only then will a new
era dawn for Sudan and will we never again see the scenes we are
witnessing now in Darfur."
Background
Hilary Benn and the British Ambassador William Patey visited three
displaced persons camps. At Kalma, near Nyala in South Darfur, Mr Benn
visited a Medicins Sans Frontières (MSF) feeding centre for young
children and a UNICEF health and vaccination project. At Meshtel, near El
Fasher in Northern Darfur, Mr Benn visited a temporary camp where many
people have no shelter and are awaiting transfer to nearby Abu Shouk. At
Abu Shouk, Mr Benn saw clinics, water wells and latrines in place for the
30,000 people already there.
Mr Benn also met UN agencies and international NGOs to hear about their
work, their plans for dealing with the crisis and the obstacles in their
way. He also raised with Government of Sudan ministers in Khartoum and
regional ministers in Nyala and El Fasher difficulties being faced by NGOs
and the UN and ministers gave him a commitment to lift travel
restrictions, fast-track registration of NGOs wishing to set up in Darfur
and to clear customs and other procedures for emergency supplies within
seven days.
Notes to Editors
- The UN now estimates 2 million people have been affected by the
ongoing conflict in Darfur of which the UN estimate that 1.1 million
are internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. In
addition, UN estimates that 130,000 refugees have fled into
neighbouring Chad. An estimated regional breakdown is as follows:
600,000 IDPs - West Darfur; 300,000 IDPs - North Darfur; 200,000 IDPs
- South Darfur.
- The scale of need in Darfur is enormous and there are significant
gaps in the delivery of humanitarian assistance across all sectors.
IDP camps and spontaneous settlements remain scattered across all
three states. Where possible, for reasons of safety and security, IDPs
have moved to live within urban and peri-urban areas in Darfur.
- The UK has played a key role in responding to the crisis in Darfur.
We have been in almost daily contact with the Government of Sudan and
the Darfur opposition groups.
- DFID is the UK Government department responsible for promoting
sustainable development and reducing poverty. The central focus of the
Government's policy is a commitment to the internationally agreed
Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. These seek to:
- Half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and
hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality e. Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Develop a global partnership for development
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