ADDIS ABABA, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan described here Tuesday the situation in the Sudan's Darfur as "horrific" and urged the international community to redouble its efforts to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the people there.
"I am thinking, in particular, of the horrific situation in Darfur in western Sudan. I have just visited Darfur and the refugee camps in Chad," he said. "The ruined villages, the camps
overflowing with sick and hungry women and children, and the fear in the eyes of the people should be a clear warning to us all: without action, the brutalities already inflicted on the civilian population of Darfur could be a prelude to even greater humanitarian catastrophe -- a catastrophe that could destabilize the region."
Annan made the remarks at the opening of the third African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.
The UN chief believed that the threat of further brutal violence and massive civilian suffering will only recede if the crisis is dealt with in a comprehensive way.
"The United Nations will support those efforts, just as we will further intensify our work to bring life-saving relief to those who so desperately need it," he said, "I call upon the
international community to redouble its efforts to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the people suffering in this region."
He also urged the Sudanese government and rebel groups to work together to end the crisis in Darfur peacefully.
"I remind the government of its sacred duty to protect its citizens, and the rebel groups of their responsibility and duty to respect the cease-fire and work with the government to end the conflict peacefully," he said.
The joint communique signed in Khartoum between the United Nations and the Sudanese government, he said, is a welcome development, as are the steps the government has already taken to remove obstacles to humanitarian work.
However, the terms of the communique must be implemented, the agreed moratorium on restrictions for all humanitarian work must be observed, the climate of impunity that has prevailed for far too long must end now, and the high-level Joint Implementation Mechanism must begin to function as soon as possible, Annan said.
Annan commented the AU's efforts to monitor the cease-fire and assist in the protection of civilians, saying they are vitally important.
He pledged support for the AU's endeavor to address the root causes of the conflict to achieve a political settlement through the process which will start here on July 15.
"I stand ready to use my good offices to assist that process. I call on all parties to bear in mind the lessons of the Sudan's history and resolve this crisis swiftly through dialogue," he said.Enditem |
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