US diplomat calls on Sudan to facilitate humanitarian activities in Darfur
October 16, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — US Senior Advisor on Darfur, Dane Smith called on the Sudanese government to facilitate humanitarian activities in Darfur stressing readiness to support development process in the restive region.
Flanked by Interim Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Khartoum, Ambassador Mary Yates Smith, paid a visit to North and South Darfur during the weekend where he met the state governments there to discuss the implementation of the Doha Darfur Peace Document and the humanitarian and security situations there.
Dan Smith discussed on Saturday, with the North Darfur Governor Osman Kibir, the implementation of early recovery programmes in the state and particularly in Kutum district where the NGO Goal realises a number of projects funded by USAID.
He said Washington is ready to support more development projects in Darfur adding he would meet with Goal officials in Kutum to discuss the progress achieved in the implementation of these projects.
Ambassador Mary Yates stated that its government seeks to support early recovery programmes and to dispatch development experts.
The US diplomat is visiting the country two weeks before a workshop on peace in Darfur that Khartoum decided to not attend. The American administration is supportive to the outcome of the Doha peace process but wants more efforts to include the non-signatory groups. Khartoum refuses further negotiations with the rebels.
For his part, Governor Kibir urged the US Administration to allocate more funds to the development programmes and to dedicate the humanitarian relief to the villages and established areas instead of IDP camps.
He also pointed out the need to focus on nomadic tribes and the development of their areas, stressing that it will contribute to stability in the region. The governor further unveiled that he has agreed with Smith to take into account the scarcity of rain this year and to implement projects that ensure the stability of Darfur.
The region recently witnessed a number of conflicts between cattle herders and farmers over grazing land and water.
In a meeting held on Sunday with the South Darfur governor Abdel Hamid Moussa Kasha, the visiting official discussed the kidnapping incidents there, pointing out that they result from the proliferation of weapons in the region after eight years of war.
Last Thursday Washington condemned the killing of three peacekeepers in Darfur underlining that the attack on UNAMID “demonstrates the continuing insecurity that exists across Darfur, and reinforces the Government of Sudan’s responsibility to protect the Darfuri people”.
South Darfur’s security forces recovered four vehicles hijacked in Nyala last week and arrested four people accused of stealing the cars. The recovered vehicles belong to UNCEF, Nyala district and two people.
(ST)