Crisis in Sudan becoming a humanitarian catastrophe: US officials
WASHINGTON, March 11 (AFP) — The unfolding crisis in the Darfur region of war-torn Sudan has become one of the world’s most pressing human catastrophes, top US aid and diplomatic officials told a congressional panel Thursday.
“Arguably, this is the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa, and perhaps in the world,” said Roger Winter, a top official with the US Agency for International Development, at a hearing of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa.
Winter told lawmakers that atrocities being committed in the region include ethnic cleansing and “massive patterns of rape” against African girls and women by the jenjaweed militia of ethnic Arabs attacking from the north.
Of particular concern are conditions in Darfour region of western Sudan, where the US State Department recently estimated that one million people are in immediate risk from famine, disease and violent attack.
“This is a place where tensions are running so high that we can be faced with a massacre,” said Winter, who recently returned from a tour of the affected areas.
The crisis is an offshoot of two decades of civil war between the south, where most observe traditional African religions and Christianity, and the Muslim, Arabized north.
Peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and southern rebels have been stalled over how to share power and decide the future of disputed regions, particularly the Abyei region.
Sudanese officials have said that a round of negotiations begun on February 18 in Kenya will likely continue through March 18, but they have promised no breakthroughs.
Meanwhile the conflict, along with war-related famine and disease, already has claimed at least 1.5 million lives, mostly in the south.
But Winter told lawmakers that rather than engaging in good faith bargaining to help resolve the crisis, the Sudanese government is engaged in “spin control” as it closes its eyes to attacks against civilians.
“Without a strong hand by the government to reign in the janjaweed, the atrocities against civilians will continue,” Winter said.
Charles Snyder, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, pointed the finger at the Khartoum government.
“These militias are proxies for the government and Khartoum bears responsibiity for their conduct — whether they say they have control or not,” he said at the hearing.
Winter said a “robust international presence” — including United Nations forces — is needed to ensure that respect for human rights, and to facilitate in the distribution of humanitarian aid.