Darfur rebels to attend humanitarian workshop in Geneva
July 8, 2008 (GENEVA) — A Geneva based conflict mediation organization will hold this week a three day workshop for Darfur rebel movements to discuss key humanitarian issues in the troubled region and its responsibilities in this respect.
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue organizes a humanitarian workshop in coordination with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from 10 to 12 July on humanitarian issues and substantive humanitarian issues related to the peace talks.
The movements that will attend the Geneva meeting are the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Unity Command.
The workshop aims at facilitating greater awareness of key humanitarian a,d related issues, and securing commitments to ensure improved protection of civilians in Darfur, as well as safe and secure access for all humanitarian organizations.
Mahgoub Hussein the spokesperson of the SLM-Unity confirmed to the Sudan Tribune the participation of the SLM-Unity in this workshop. He said the Sudanese government holds the responsibility of obstructing the work of humanitarian organizations in Darfur.
“Famine will be part of Darfur reality unless the Sudanese government is committed to an immediate ceasefire and adherence to international humanitarian law” Hussein said.
The rebel official also urged the international community to decree Darfur a no fly zone for flights of Sudanese military aircrafts.
The workshop is expected to focus on physical Security — including sexual violence, freedom of movement—displacement — including IDPs and refugees, freedom of choice preventing forced return and forced relocation – and rule of Law, including accountability, justice mechanisms, reparations and compensation, property restitution.
Besides Darfur rebel groups will take part in the workshop different UN agencies — OCHA, UNHCR, OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF — UNAMID, UNMIS, ICRC and IOM as well as independent experts.
The United Nations says a “perfect storm” of growing violence, overcrowding in refugee camps and bad harvests could cause a food crisis in Darfur, home to the world’s largest humanitarian operation.
International experts say at least 300,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003 when Darfur rebel groups took up arms against Khartoum. Another 2.5 million have been left homeless. However, Khartoum puts the number of victims at 10,000.
(ST)