Sinn Fein’s Adams urges stronger UN response to Darfur crisis?

‏LONDON, Nov 1, 2004 (KUNA) — The United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) ‏‏were urged Monday to muster a more effective international response to the ‏‏humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.‏

‏Speaking to reporters before his week-long tour of the United States which ‏‏begins this Wednesday, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the international ‏‏community’s reaction to the situation had been ineffectual.‏

‏Adams said the crisis illustrated the need for a fundamental restructuring ‏‏of the U.N.‏

‏He urged the Irish Government to use its influence in the EU and UN to ‏‏forge a better international response.‏

‏”For almost two years the Sudanese government, through its surrogates in ‏‏the Janjaweed militia, has waged a brutal war against the people of the Darfur ‏‏region,” he said.‏

‏”Mass murder, the destruction of villages, food and livestock and ‏‏irrigation systems has been tolerated by the international community.”‏

‏”50,000 have died and 1.2 million people were driven from their homes and ‏‏into hurriedly erected camps, ill-equipped to deal with even their basic needs. ‏The UN has proven ineffectual in influencing the Sudanese government or ‏‏brining an end to the behaviour of the Janjaweed.”‏

‏”The resolutions passed by the UN reflect the economic self-interests of ‏‏key members of the Security Council rather than the humanitarian needs of the ‏‏people of Darfur. ”The Darfur crisis highlights again the need for a fundamental ‏‏restructuring of the UN.”‏

‏”Too often in recent years governments have violated human rights while ‏‏the world stands by. The usual platitudes of shock and horror, and concern ‏‏have been made, but no action taken to challenge the governments involved,” ‏ ‏the Sinn Fein President added.‏
‏

Talks aimed at ending the war between Darfur’s local rebels and ‏‏pro-Sudanese government militias have been taking place in Abuja, the Nigerian ‏‏capital.‏
‏

Over 1.5 million people have fled their homes because of the war in Darfur ‏‏and around 70,000 have been killed.‏

‏Aid agencies have been struggling to cope with demands for water and food ‏
‏from refugees in the middle of the conflict.‏

‏Adams said that with so many people dying, urgent action was required from ‏‏the international community.‏

‏With an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 people dying each month in the Darfur ‏‏region significant and urgent action is needed,” he went on.‏
‏

In conclusion, Adams said The Irish Government should use its ‏‏international good standing, diplomatic resources and political influences and ‏‏take the lead in pushing the international community, especially the EU and ‏‏UN, toward a substantial involvement which will quickly alleviate the ‏‏suffering of the people of that region.”