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| Africa: Horn |
| Boucher: Update on Dafur |
| 2004-06-15 |
| Excerpted from State Department Daily Press Briefing MR. BOUCHER: Yeah. I think, as you know, the situation in Darfur remains to be of critical concern to the United States and, indeed, to the international community. It is one of the highest priorities for this Administration, and we’re deeply concerned that despite assurances from the Government of Sudan that they are providing humanitarian access, that there is, in fact, still considerable blockages to getting aid to the people in need. The Government of Sudan continues to deny release of vehicles needed by humanitarian relief agencies. There are also, in some cases -- they have also, in some cases, denied release of the radio equipment needed for workers to securely deploy to remote areas to deliver aid. In addition, the Government has delayed food shipments from Port Sudan, potentially to the point of making food that comes from there useless. Security officials in Darfur continue to harass or delay humanitarian workers seeking to administer to the needy. And these delays continue, despite the improvements following new visa and permit policies. I’d also note that in recent days, there’s been an upsurge in attacks on transport routes used for delivering relief, and one incident of rebels holding NGO workers for two days. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance, including immediate release of all vehicles and equipment and of all food shipments bound for Darfur. We also call on the parties -- that is, the government, the Sudan Liberation Army Movement, and the Justice and Equality Movement -- to cooperate with the United Nations and the humanitarian agencies to avoid all interference with the work and to adhere completely to the ceasefire agreement. We particularly call on the government to stop the attacks by government-supported militias. As far as the situation on the ground goes, we have seven members of a U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team in Darfur. They’re working on health, nutrition, water, sanitation, food and logistical assessments. And they’re also monitoring the programs that are currently underway. The U.S. has arranged for 14 airlifts of food and supplies so far and we expect the 15th to arrive on June 19th, carrying more non-food items. Some supplies are arriving by road. The insecurity on the roads within Darfur is a major problem. Drivers have been stopped and shot at. Due to insecurity and driver reluctance to drive on the roads, trucking prices are three to four times higher in Darfur than prior to the conflict. The government requires all private transportation contractors to be Sudanese, and this limits overall trucking capacity and the ability to move goods via ground transport. Non-food items are being distributed by nongovernmental organizations. Our implementing partner for the U.S. Agency for International Development is CARE, and they are assisting in the distribution of items brought in by the U.S. airlifts. The World Food Program is overseeing the distribution of food through local and international nongovernmental organizations. Let me note as well that there was a UN resolution adopted on June 10th that says very clearly, on behalf of the Security Council, that they want to see the violence end, that they call on the parties to use their influence to bring an immediate halt to the fighting in the Darfur region. We have -- in the Security Council, we’ve welcomed the African Union efforts and called on the international community to provide constant engagement, including extensive funding for peace in Sudan and for assisting people in this region. And I’d note as well, there was a G-8 statement on Darfur. So we’ve been working a lot on this issue. The Secretary spoke yesterday with the Secretary General about the situation in Darfur and it’s been a matter that they have continued to both work on as much as they can. Sir. QUESTION |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #1 The folks at the UN and international talking heads must be very pleased-we have a concensus and we are busy in dialog with our governmental partners in the Sudan and the region. This is the way, they tell us, that crises in the international political arena should be handled. If all goes well, access will be clear for collective action by October-by then, the corpses will be pretty well picked over...wait a minute, maybe that is what this august body of international power wanted all along--all evidence to drift away in the sands...with only bones left. I am starting to understand the strategy. |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-06-15 10:22:09 AM |