EvanL
06-09-2004, 02:44 PM
LONDON (AP) - The crisis in Sudan is the world's worst humanitarian emergency, Britain's international development secretary said Wednesday after returning from the country.
Hilary Benn said the United Nations and the Sudanese government must do more to protect more than a million people left homeless by 15 months of fighting in the Darfur region.
"The number of humanitarian agencies on the ground is limited," Benn told the House of Commons. "I have also been concerned about the adequacy and speed of the U.N.'s response, although this should now change."
The crisis in Sudan is likely to be discussed at the G8 summit in the United States.
Tensions have long existed between Darfur's African farmers and Arab nomads, fueled by competition for land and scarce resources even though they are all Muslim in the region.
The recent rebellion started in February 2003, when black African insurgents took up arms, saying they had long been neglected by the government in Khartoum.
Since then, the violence has escalated and human rights groups accuse the Islamic government of arming Arab militias to carry out ethnic cleansing. President Omar el-Bashir's administration has denied the claims.
Benn visited three camps for some of the 1 million people who have had to flee their homes because of the rebellion.
"The humanitarian needs are enormous," he said, adding that problems would be compounded by this year's harvest being disrupted by the conflict.
He said Britain had already given 19.5 million pounds (US$35.7 million) in aid via the United Nations and announced a further 15 million pounds (US$27.5 million) in assistance.
"The U.K., the U.S. and the European Union have to date provided three-quarters of the international response, and there is an urgent need for other donors to do more," Benn added.
Benn said he had urged the government to rein in the militia and "condemn these acts of violence and to provide adequate protection for displaced people."
There are plans for the African Union to monitor a three-month-old cease-fire, which each side accuses the other of violating. Benn said Britain would contribute one of the six observers requested from the European Union and help fund the monitoring effort.
© The Canadian Press, 2004
Hilary Benn said the United Nations and the Sudanese government must do more to protect more than a million people left homeless by 15 months of fighting in the Darfur region.
"The number of humanitarian agencies on the ground is limited," Benn told the House of Commons. "I have also been concerned about the adequacy and speed of the U.N.'s response, although this should now change."
The crisis in Sudan is likely to be discussed at the G8 summit in the United States.
Tensions have long existed between Darfur's African farmers and Arab nomads, fueled by competition for land and scarce resources even though they are all Muslim in the region.
The recent rebellion started in February 2003, when black African insurgents took up arms, saying they had long been neglected by the government in Khartoum.
Since then, the violence has escalated and human rights groups accuse the Islamic government of arming Arab militias to carry out ethnic cleansing. President Omar el-Bashir's administration has denied the claims.
Benn visited three camps for some of the 1 million people who have had to flee their homes because of the rebellion.
"The humanitarian needs are enormous," he said, adding that problems would be compounded by this year's harvest being disrupted by the conflict.
He said Britain had already given 19.5 million pounds (US$35.7 million) in aid via the United Nations and announced a further 15 million pounds (US$27.5 million) in assistance.
"The U.K., the U.S. and the European Union have to date provided three-quarters of the international response, and there is an urgent need for other donors to do more," Benn added.
Benn said he had urged the government to rein in the militia and "condemn these acts of violence and to provide adequate protection for displaced people."
There are plans for the African Union to monitor a three-month-old cease-fire, which each side accuses the other of violating. Benn said Britain would contribute one of the six observers requested from the European Union and help fund the monitoring effort.
© The Canadian Press, 2004