United States: Darfur security still poor

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug 24, 2004 (UPI) — The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it remained concerned by the humanitarian situation in Sudan’s Darfur region.

“The security situation, as you know, remains inadequate
with continued violence, continued fear,” department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said. He noted “some improvement” on humanitarian access, however.

The comments came after British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is in the region, said more needed to be done to end the crisis in Darfur where government-backed Arab militia, or Janjaweed, have been accused of attacking, killing and raping black Africans. More than 1 million people have been displaced.

The United Nations has issued a resolution demanding Sudan disarm all armed groups or face action.

Ereli said the United States would consult with Straw and other Security Council members on the issue. An interim report on Sudan’s implementation of U.N. resolutions is being issued and the U.N. secretary-general’s special envoy for Sudan will deliver an assessment Sept. 2.