Top Darfur official says world feeling “fatigue” over region’s prolonged crisis

June 10, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), Eltigani Seisi said today that the international and regional communities as well as the local community is beginning to feel fatigue stemming from from the situation in the region due to continued deterioration of security caused by armed groups and tribal conflicts.

Seisi called for a halt to all forms of violence so that DRA could start implementing development projects and warned if they do not start in two months time, “we will not be able to answer for that”.

The Darfur official appealed to non-signatory armed groups to join the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) signed in May 2011.

Seisi, who was addressing the opening session of first annual conference of civil society organizations in Darfur and the follow-up mechanism on strategic planning in Al-Fashir yesterday, called for unity among the people of Darfur who suffered from civil war and tribal conflicts.

He noted that donors have raised considerable amounts of money for the development and reconstruction projects through the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur (IDCRDD) which was held in Doha last April in addition to financial allocations from Sudan’s government which amounted to 800 million pound (SDG).

He disclosed that donors’ money will be allocated through the World Bank and the United Nations as well as the donor nations, while a committee comprised of the central government, the DRA, and Darfur states would oversee allocation of the 800 million SDG in reconstruction projects and voluntary repatriation.

The former rebel leader also spoke about the implementation of the DDPD as well as the implementation of the voluntary return programs for the internally displaced persons and refugees, pointing that Qatar allocated $560 million for that.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

The United Nations estimates as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million people have been displaced during the ongoing conflict.

According to the UN Human Rights Council, 400,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced.

The Sudanese government, however, put the number of dead at only 10,000.

(ST)