Urgent assistance needed from Malaysia in Darfur crisis
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1, 2004 (Bernama) — Nigeria is seeking assistance from Malaysia as Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to play a more active role in dealing with the Darfur problem in Sudan.
It’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Dr Wahab Olaseinde Dosunmu, said donors should press Khartoum to give international humanitarian organisations greater access to provide assistance and protection to the displaced population in all areas.
Speaking to Bernama on Nigeria’s 44th National Day Friday, he said Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also Chairman of the African Union (AU), had invited all representatives of Sudan’s state holders to Abudja in Nigeria to discuss and find critical solutions.
Dosunmu said: “Africa is capable of solving and dealing with Darfur, all we need is urgent assistance from developed countries.”
For instance, he said, troops to be deployed in Darfur have to be transported and stay there for a period of time. Nigeria and other African countries do not have such resources, he added.
He added any developed country that cared about Darfur should come out with resources to enable Africans to assist themselves to deal with the problem.
Priority should be given to issues on security, education and water.
Without greater international support for the African Union intervention, the violence in Darfur will continue, he said.
Renewed fighting had occurred around Ta’asha in South Darfur forcing at least 5,000 people to flee their homes in the last three days.
The recent spate of violence show that despite recent talks in the United Nations, the Janjaweed (militant group) are still heavily armed, destroying villages throughout Darfur, creating fear and chaos.
People fleeing the violence are without food and water. Most arrive in the camps with few or no belongings.
More than 35,000 displaced persons had returned to their villages in South Darfur since the mayhem started about 18 months ago.
More displaced persons will be moved to a more secure camp such as Abu Shouk in North Darfur.
Relief camps throughout Darfur, in Nyala, Zalingi and Ta’asha, are responsible for distributing food, water, shelter, sanitation and health care to thousands of families who were forced to flee their homes following attacks by the Janjaweed.
The African Union has offered 3,000 military troops and 1,200 policemen, said Dosunmu.
Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army have already signed a number of peace agreements but they are now expected to sign an overall peace deal.
The talks will resume in Nairobi on Oct 7.
Delegates from various parties are scheduled to discuss reconstruction aid after a peace agreement was reached to put an end to the 21-year old civil war between the Arab-Muslim north of the country and the mainly Christian and animist south.