Truce in southern Sudan extended; international warning of deteriorated humanitarian condition in Darfour
Sudan, Politics, 5/3/2004

The world Food program WFP has warned against the escalation of humanitarian sufferings in Darfour, to the west of Sudan, if urgent measures are not taken immediately to improve and facilitate the arrivals of relief aid to citizens.

WFP's executive director James Maurice said in a press conference in Khartoum that he has asked the Sudanese government to intensify its efforts to settle the issue of its pro- Arab militias, which are accused of violating the cease fire.

On the other hand, the UN special envoy for humanitarian affairs, Tom Fralson, said that the cease fire is implemented by the three sides signatory to the agreement, accusing the militias which are not taking part in the agreement of being responsible for the violations.

Maurice started yesterday a visit to the region on top of a UN mission in order to evaluate the humanitarian conditions in Darfour. The UN envoy stressed that the displaced are living in hard and unaccepted conditions. He, in particular indicated Morni camp to the west of Darfour where some 60,000 displaced are living, said they are living in "horrible " conditions and have only one health center.

He explained that some 140 million dollars are necessary to cover the needs of more than one million evacuees. He indicated that this sum will increase if acts of violence will not be halted. Maurice stressed that despite the cease fire, still, access to the evacuees is still difficult. He also called for the need to ensure sums necessary before the fall of rainfall season by the end of the current month which damages roads and increases the danger of disease spread.

News reports in Darfour said that conditions are deteriorating in the area at the security and health especially in west Darfour state, especially after the Sudan's liberation movement announced non- abidance to what was agreed upon with the Sudanese government in the recent round of negotiations in Chad.

On the other hand, the Sudanese government and the southern rebels signed an agreement in Nivasha, Kenya to extend the truce in southern Sudan for another month. This came in the context of the talks which were resumed last Thursday between the delegations of the two sides chaired by the first deputy of the Sudanese President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha and the leader of the people's front for the liberation of Sudan John Garang.

The talks concentrate on other issues of difference which obstruct the realization of a comprehensive peace agreement. These include the implementation of the Islamic Sharia in Khartoum, sharing the authority and rule status of the Blue Nile and al-Nouba mountains area.

Previous Stories:
  Khartoum admits violations in Darfour, accuses Garang   (5/1/2004)
  Sudan: members in the ruling party called for the separation of the north from the south   (4/30/2004)
  Nivasha negotiations were resumed, Europe calls for relieving Darfour   (4/30/2004)

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