Sudan violating international humanitarian law – UN’s Annan

May 23, 2006 (UNITED NATIONS) — Sudan’s government is violating international humanitarian law by barring fuel, food and relief aid to civilians in Darfur, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report released Monday.

A Sudanese guards humanitarian aid from the World Food Program at Kalma refugee camp near Nyala town in Sudan’s south Darfur region.

The report to the U.N. Security Council described in frank terms how the people of Darfur have been exposed to more violence in recent months, even as aid groups are cutting the programs because of insufficient funding.

“Civilians in Darfur continued to suffer the consequences of persistent violence and insecurity,” Annan said in the report, which was sent to the Security Council and was to be made public in the coming days.

Government embargoes on goods entering areas of Darfur held by the rebel Sudanese Liberation Army “have prevented the access of civilians to vital goods and constitute a violation of international humanitarian law,” Annan wrote.

The report covered March and April but made clear that a May 5 peace deal signed between Sudan’s government and a main rebel faction has done little to bring solace to civilians in Darfur, where fighting has killed nearly 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million since 2003.

Annan accused all parties in the conflict of also violating humanitarian law with “totally unacceptable levels of violence and despicable attacks against civilians,” even as final negotiations for the peace deal took place.

He demanded splinter rebel factions which have refused to sign the peace deal be urged to join in efforts toward peace.

Annan’s assessment came just days after the top U.N humanitarian official, Jan Egeland, warned that relief efforts in Darfur could collapse within weeks unless the government makes good on the peace deal and donors fund aid work there.

Despite the peace deal, Annan said women still faced rape and other abuses as they went to collect firewood. Local government officials have denied the U.N. access to detention facilities, and humanitarian workers have come under increased attack.

Annan also accused Sudan of failing to punish top state officials and armed leaders for attacks against civilians. That reinforces “a widely shared sense of impunity,” he said.

Sudan has opposed an investigation by the U.N. war crimes tribunal into atrocities in Darfur, and instead set up its own investigation and a Special Court for Darfur. Annan said the Sudanese body has only heard one case so far, dating from October, 2005.

When he spoke before the council last week, Egeland warned there was a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

Annan took up the call, warning that every day mattered for Darfur’s civilians.

“I therefore repeat my urgent appeal for the international community to continue supporting the humanitarian effort for Darfur in this critical phase,” he said.

(ST/AP)