Annan denounces ‘appalling’ situation in Darfur

ALGIERS, March 23 (AFP) — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan denounced at an Arab summit Wednesday the “appalling” situation in Sudan’s western Darfur region and called for funds to help civilians caught up in the conflict.

Kofi Annan.

“The appalling situation in Darfur casts a long shadow over what has been accomplished in Naivasha,” he said, referring to the peace agreement that was reached between the Sudanese government and rebels in the south.

“Valiant efforts have been made on the humanitarian side and by the African Union on the security side but there has been hardly any progress at the political level,” Annan said in a speech at the closing session of the summit.

He urged Arab leaders to provide the UN with “urgent” funds for humanitarian operations in Darfur, where a rebel uprising which started two years ago has led to an estimated 180,000 dead and displaced more than 1.8 million people.

“All of us must now urge the parties to negotiate in good faith and in a spirit of compromise,” Annan said.

“We also need substantial new funding for our humanitarian operations in Darfur … the support of Arab countries, including your urgent financial support, will be crucial,” he said.

Annan’s speech came as deadlocked Security Council diplomats were to meet Wednesday in New York to discuss three UN resolutions on Sudan proposed by the United States, with pressure mounting to stop the bloodshed in Darfur.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was among the 13 heads of state attending the Arab summit in Algiers, which is expected to voice support for Khartoum in the face of possible UN sanctions.