UN confirms stability in Sudan’s Darfur

KHARTOUM, Mar 23, 2005 (Xinhua) — The United Nations confirmed here on Wednesday the stability in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported.

The spokesperson for the United Nations advance mission in the Sudan, Radhia Achouri.

Radia Achouri, spokeswoman for the UN special envoy to Sudan, told reporters that the security situation in Darfur was stable despite some separate incidents of threats and attacks by militia groups against international humanitarian workers in the region.

She affirmed that the United Nations will continue its activities to protect the Darfur people and to improve their living conditions, adding that the world body has been evaluating the threats to take suitable measures on the issue.

The UN official stressed that the decrease of mortality rate and eliminating causes of death in Darfur should be taken as the top priority in the war-ravaged region.

Achouri expressed satisfaction over the Sudanese government’s efforts, while calling on the Darfur conflicting sides to shoulder responsibility and abide by the ceasefire agreement signed on April 8, 2004 as well as to ensure the humanitarian supply by the needy people of Darfur.

She further confirmed the necessity to deploy 8,000 African Union troops of protection across Darfur to ensure stability and security there.

The conflict of Darfur flared up in February 2003 when two rebel groups took up arms against the government accusing Khartoum of negligence.