Africa Action notes new momentum towards international action on Darfur
AFRICA ACTION
Press Release
Contact: Ann-Louise Colgan (202) 546-7961
Welcomes UN Planning & Stated U.S. Commitment to Robust International Intervention, But Emphasizes that Urgency is Paramount, Immediate Protection Needs Still Not Being Met
Feb 21, 2006 (WASHINGTON, DC) — Africa Action today stated
that an apparent new commitment from the U.S. and international
community in recent weeks to address the Darfur crisis comes in response
to growing pressure from advocacy groups and activists, as well as
reports of deteriorating conditions in the region. The momentum of
recent weeks now raises expectations of swifter action. The
organization stated today that the urgency of the situation in Darfur,
Sudan, requires rapid and decisive action to ensure protection for
civilians and humanitarian operations on the ground, and that such
action is not yet forthcoming from the U.S. or other international
leaders.
Africa Action notes that the current phase of contingency planning
towards a possible United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission for Darfur,
and the recently expressed U.S. commitment to introducing a Security
Council resolution authorizing such a mission by the end of February,
must quickly be followed by the deployment of a robust international
force to address the deteriorating security situation in western Sudan.
Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action, said today, “We must
be clear that the apparent momentum of recent weeks towards
international action on Darfur has yet to make any difference on the
ground. We welcome the belated recognition that the African Union (AU)
operation in Darfur requires a larger international intervention in
order to protect the people of Darfur, but we emphasize that such a
force can and must be deployed immediately to stop the ongoing genocide.”
Africa Action has been demanding a multinational intervention to stop
genocide in Darfur since June 2004, and today the organization notes
that such an intervention is still essential in order to stop the
violence, provide security to humanitarian efforts, facilitate stalled
peace talks and support the voluntary return of displaced people to
their land. The organization emphasizes that the necessary transition
from the AU mission in Darfur to a larger UN operation must occur on an
urgent basis and must receive the full logistical and financial support
of the U.S. and other powerful countries, including troop support should
that be required.
Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at
Africa Action, said today, “This transition from an African regional
force to a UN peacekeeping operation has been achieved successfully in
the past, and lessons learned must now be applied for Darfur
(http://www.africaaction.org/newsroom/docs/DarfurStatement1205.pdf). As
the situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate, the UN Security
Council must be prepared to take the necessary steps to deploy a
protection force to the region immediately. With strong international
support, a UN peacekeeping mission should be possible in a matter of
weeks, but if not, alternatives must be considered now that can achieve
security on the ground in the immediate term.”
Marie Clarke Brill, Director of Public Education & Mobilization at
Africa Action, said today, “The Bush Administration appears to be
responding to public pressure for new action to stop the genocide in
Darfur this month, when it holds the presidency of the UN Security
Council. But we must be vigilant to ensure that its statements are
matched by real efforts to deploy an international peacekeeping force
with a mandate to protect the people of Darfur. Activism will continue
to escalate until this urgent need has been met.”
Most recently, Africa Action has been holding weekly vigils outside the
offices of the U.S. mission to the UN in New York, and thousands of
postcards continue to flood into the White House, urging the
Administration to introduce a Security Council resolution authorizing an
urgent multinational intervention to stop the genocide in Darfur.
For
more information and analysis see http://www.africaaction.org/darfur