U.S. reaffirms its support to Darfur peace projects
September 10, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – U.S. Senior Adviser for Darfur Dane Smith reaffirmed the support of his government to Darfur Regional Authority (DRFA) particularly its plans to for the voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In a meeting he held with DRA finance minister, Amna Haroun, in El Fasher on Monday, the US diplomat disclosed that his country will participate in the funding of recovery and development projects to be presented at the donors’ conference for Darfur reconstruction which will be held in Doha next December.
Smith also pledged to support a conference for vulnerary return of refugees and IDPs scheduled to be held in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, next November.
Washington still contributes largely to the food distribution programme implemented in Darfur region since about nine years with other water, health care and education projects.
However, according to different aid groups and UN agencies, the IDPs say have more interest to return to their home villages asking to implement recovery and development projects.
UN agencies like UNFAO say already people returned to their villages without any international assistance.
USAID organised last August a forum in Addis Ababa to discuss ways to support the voluntary return of Darfur IDPs and their needs.
The minister told the official SUNA, that she discussed with the visiting U.S. official the financial challenges facing the authority.
Sudanese government and the former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement signed the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in July 2011. But Khartoum failed to provide the Authority with some $200 million need to implement IDPs return programme due to the severe economic crisis since the loss of South Sudan oil revenue.
DRA chairman Tijani El-Sissi and state minister Amin Hassan Omer who chairs DDPD implementation follow-up office travelled Monday to Doha to discuss the preparations of the donors conference with the Qatari deputy prime minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud.
The meetings would discuss the projects that would be presented to the donors.
(ST)