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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:11 pm Khartoum 'worsening Darfur crisis' |
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Khartoum 'worsening Darfur crisis'
KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Sudan's government is worsening the crisis in the embattled Darfur region by legitimizing militia groups and blocking international aid, Human Rights Watch says.
The United Nations also hit out again at the Sudanese government, saying fresh helicopter attacks in Darfur were worsening an already desperate humanitarian situation.
A Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday said armed government forces and Arab militias, backed by Khartoum, continued to attack men, rape women and steal livestock in the region.
"The Sudanese government insists that it is taking significant measures, but the continuing atrocities in Darfur prove that Khartoum's claims simply aren't credible," said Peter Takirambudde, executive director for Human Rights Watch's Africa Division.
"If the government were serious about wanting to protect civilians, it would welcome a greater international presence," he added.
Sudan's government however says it is taking action against the Janjaweed militia. Khartoum has less than three weeks to disarm the militants or face unspecified U.N. sanctions.
The United Nations describes the situation in Darfur, brought on by 18 months of internal conflict, as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Pro-government Arab militias have been waging a counterinsurgency campaign that has led to widespread destruction and the displacement of around 1 million people.
Aid agencies estimate about 2 million people are in urgent need of food and medical aid.
The 18-month conflict in Sudan began when black African factions in Darfur rose up against the Sudanese government, claiming discrimination in the distribution of scarce resources in the large, arid region.
Since then, government-backed Arab militias, have gone on a rampage, destroying villages, killing and raping.
As many as 30,000 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
Fighting is continuing between government forces, with the allied Janjaweed and the two rebel groups in Darfur -- the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement.
On Tuesday, the United Nations blamed helicopter gunship attacks and Janjaweed violence in South Darfur for more displacement. (Full story)
Under a joint plan agreed with the United Nations, Sudan said it would establish safe areas for displaced refugees and halt military operations in those regions.
The U.N. Security Council gave Sudan an August 30 deadline to disarm the militias.
A July 30 resolution also demanded Khartoum improve security, human rights and humanitarian assistance in Darfur.
Despite claims from Khartoum the situation was improving, Human Rights Watch said the government appeared to be backtracking on the timeline set out by the Security Council resolution.
The report said the government was incorporating the Janjaweed into police and other security forces.
"Incorporating the Janjaweed militias into the security services and then deploying them to protect civilian 'safe areas' is the height of absurdity," said Takirambudde.
"The Sudanese government needs to bring war criminals to justice, not recruit them into positions of responsibility."
Human Rights Watch also said an increased international presence on the ground is urgently needed to improve the protection of civilians, assess the government's actions and stabilize the region.
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Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/08/11/sudan/index.html
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