Aid agencies hail signing of Sudan peace agreement

NAIROBI, Jan 10, 2005 (Xinhua) — Six international agencies working in Sudan on Monday welcomed the historic signing of the long- awaited comprehensive Sudan peace agreement.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, the agencies also called on the international community to ensure the fledgling peace deal is implemented.

“The agreement offers Sudan the best hope yet for peace. For millions of displaced people it will signal the start of their journey home. It is the start of the process of healing for the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people who have borne the brunt of this cruel conflict,” said Cynthia Gaigals, a spokesperson for the agencies.

The relief official said it is vital that the international community continue to work with the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation’s Movement to ensure that the peace deal is implemented.

“The next six months are the most fragile for this fledgling peace deal. A strong peacekeeping mission must be deployed quickly by the United Nations. Sudan has been ravaged by civil war for generations, and donors need to commit funds for essential development,” said Gaigals.

The six agencies are CARE International, Christian Aid, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam International, Save the Children UK and Tearfund.

The agencies also pointed out that despite this peace agreement, insufficient attention has been given to the underlying causes of Sudan’s conflict, contributing to continued fighting in Darfur and tensions in the Beja area in east Sudan.

“In Darfur nearly two million people have been driven from their homes, continued abuses and unrelenting attacks are a tragic blight on the peace process,” Gaigals said.

The Sudanese government and southern rebels signed a final comprehensive peace accord in Nairobi on Sunday, culminating two years of peace process to end the 21-year-old civil war in southern Sudan, the longest-running in Africa.