Success of humanitarian plan is crucial for peace in Darfur – official
May 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs on Sunday reaffirmed that the success of the humanitarian programme in Darfur would be one of the most important indices of the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) singed by the government of Sudan and the Darfur Sudan Liberation Movement SLA faction of Minni Minawi.
The general commissioner for humanitarian affairs at the ministry Hassabu Mohamed Abdellah has pointed out that the ministry was currently benched on doubling the efforts in the humanitarian domains and of reinvigorating the partnership between the government and the donors and the untied nations and other international organizations.
He said Sudan would hold a deliberative meeting on Tuesday 16 May with the heads of the organizations working in the humanitarian field in Darfur with the view to study the implementation of the Darfur agreement particularly in the humanitarian axis and issues relevant to IDP, refugees, relief and voluntary return.
Hassabu said the minister for humanitarian affairs; the state minister for humanitarian affairs as well as the commissioner for humanitarian affairs would address the meeting. The commissioner stressed that the humanitarian situation in Darfur was now under full control and that they were not as bad as they used to be pictured by some quarters.
According to humanitarian indicators the situation in Darfur is now under control and is not as bad as it was being depicted particularly with regards to the malnutrition rates and the death rates, he Said.
Hassabu added that the government has emergency plans for provision of the humanitarian requirement during the months of needs, which extend from July up to August, calling on the world community, the donors and the UN to honour their pledges.
He said although peace has been realized in the south still the civilians there get only 30 per cent of the pledges made by the International community. The commissioner stressed the keenness of the ministry to provide all the facilities needed within the law to the humanitarian organizations and all agencies operating in Darfur.
He pointed out that Sudan has a vast experience in the domain of humanitarian affairs that extend to over twenty years. He said the commission has a programme known as the procedures of the high way procedures that would be used to complete all procedures and all works related to the organizations working in Darfur within 72 hours.
On the law recently made about the voluntary work laws, the commissioner stressed that the law was positive and give the backing and allow the local and international organizations operating in Sudan and provide them with lots of facilities.
He said the highest legislative body in the country, the parliament, has ratified the law and that therefore it would not be acceptable to criticize or to question it because this would be against the national sovereignty.
(ST)