U.S. urges Sudan to permit access to humanitarian workers? into Darfur

WASHINGTON, Mar 2, 2004 (KUNA) — The United States on Tuesday urged the ‏government of Sudan and opposition leaders there to ensure the safety and ‏‏unhindered movement of humanitarian workers and commodities into the Darfur ‏‏region of western Sudan.‏

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“There is a lack of civil order, refusal of local as well as national ‏‏authorities to permit unrestricted access for humanitarian workers,” State ‏‏Department spokesman Richard Boucher said during a department briefing. “These ‏‏have put as many as one million people at imminent risk of life and livelihood.‏

The actions of government-supported militias who continue to attack and ‏‏burn undefended villages are particularly threatening, he said.‏
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The United States and others have asked the parties to establish a ‏‏cease-fire, and the United States also has offered to facilitate negotiations ‏‏aimed at resolving procedures to implement humanitarian assistance programs in ‏‏the region, he added.‏
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“We stand by that offer,” Boucher said. “The government of Sudan has not ‏
‏yet responded to that offer.”‏

‏The United States urges the parties to immediately begin negotiations on a ‏‏cease-fire, and to help facilitate the rapid and free movement of ‏‏representatives of the parties to the site of the negotiations, he said.‏
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Also, the United States urges the parties “to act decisively and ‏‏transparently to disarm and bring under responsible authority all of the ‏‏irregular forces and militias,” Boucher said.