South Darfur’s security, humanitarian situations stable -governor

February 26, 2008 (NYALA) — South Darfur’s Acting Governor Farah Mushtafa Tuesday told visiting Chinese special envoy for Darfur Liu Guijin that the security and humanitarian situations in South Darfur were stable and making improvements.

“Please be assured that the security situation in South Darfur is very stable after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). The humanitarian situation is also stable as channels to transport humanitarian goods and daily materials have been completely open,” said Mushtafa.

The DPA was signed in May 2006 by the Sudanese government and the main Darfur rebel faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM). It was the first peace agreement, and so far the only one, between the central government and Darfur’s rebel groups.

At present, there were lies and false information about South Darfur but they were groundless, said Mushtafa.

He expressed gratitude to China for its “courageous support” for the Darfur people and their transitional authority, saying that China has played an important role in pushing forward the settlement of the Darfur issue.

South Darfur is the largest state among Darfur’s three states, which also include North Darfur and West Darfur, and South Darfur’s population, about 6 million, accounted for 60 percent of Darfur’s total.

Mushtafa said South Darfur’s transitional authority will provide more humanitarian assistance to those internally displaced persons (IDPs).

He also urged other countries to provide more assistance, saying South Darfur is currently facing problems in relation to water, health, education and road.

“China has been helping to provide services in water and health, which are badly needed in South Darfur. Actually, China is the first foreign nation to provide such services here,” said Mushtafa.

He also expressed much appreciation to Liu’s visit, saying it came at a critical moment as the deployment of the UN-AU (African Union) hybrid peacekeeping forces was underway.

This is Liu’s second visit to South Darfur and fourth to Sudan since his appointment last May.

“With such kind of field tour, I can have better knowledge about people’s real need in Darfur, so as to enable the Chinese side to provide aid more effectively,” Liu said.

“China is Sudan’s friend. China is deeply sympathetic to conflicts and humanitarian problems in Darfur, and we are willing to provide more tangible assistance,” said Liu, who flied to South Darfur’s capital Nyala from the Sudanese capital earlier in the day for a one-day visit to Darfur.

China has committed itself to improving Darfur’s security and humanitarian situations and helping resolve the Darfur issue as soon as possible, he added.

Liu arrived in Khartoum on Sunday for a four-day visit to Sudan.

Liu, a 62-year-old veteran diplomat and former Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been engaged in African affairs for more than 25 years.

Since resuming his current post, he had paid three visits to Sudan and also shuttled between the United States, Britain, Egypt and other countries concerned, making efforts to resolving the Darfur issue.

(Xinhua)