Japan to press Sudan to end humanitarian crisis in Darfur

TOKYO, Aug 27 (AFP) — Japan will press Sudan to end the humanitarian crisis in its strife-torn western region of Darfur when Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail visits here next month, the foreign ministry said Friday.

Ismail is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on September 5 for a five-day visit that includes a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, the ministry said.

Darfur will top Japan’s agenda even though the trip was arranged long before the international community woke up to the crisis.

“Japan and the international community are very concerned over the crisis in Darfur and we will voice our grave concern and press the Sudanese government to take concrete measures to end this problem,” a ministry official said.

The United Nations estimates that up to 50,000 people have been killed since Sudan’s armed forces and the militias cracked down on non-Arab minorities supporting rebels who took up arms against the government early last year.

More than one million people have fled their homes, with up to 200,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Chad.

Sudan faces a UN deadline of August 30 to restore peace in Darfur or face sanctions.

Japan has limited leverage, having stopped providing foreign aid to Sudan in 1992 due to the country’s violation of human rights, but it continues to give emergency food and medical supply mainly to refugees.