The senior United Nations envoy to Sudan and the countrys Foreign Minister have signed an agreement committing Khartoum to take “detailed steps” in the next 30 days to disarm the militias responsible for deadly attacks in the Darfur region, improve security for the 1,2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, a UN spokesperson said Thursday.
The text of the deal between Jan Pronk, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Sudan, and Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail must now be approved by the Sudanese Cabinet.
Mr. Pronk voiced hope that if this happens and the agreement is implemented, the Security Council would see Khartoum was making “substantial progress” and decide not to take further action against Sudan.
In a resolution adopted last Friday, the Council said it would consider measures – including economic sanctions – if the Sudanese Government did not make progress on commitments to disarm the feared Janjaweed militias and restore security in Darfur.
Mr. Pronk and Mr. Ismail reached the deal last night during the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM), a body set up by the UN and Sudan to keep watch on the commitments, which were set out in a joint communiqué adopted on 3 July as Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrapped up a trip to Sudan.
Khartoum has since unblocked access for aid workers to the more than 100 IDP camps across Darfur, Mr. Pronk said, urging the international community to take advantage and deliver more food, medicines and other aid.
In addition to the 1,2 million Sudanese displaced by the conflict, 200.000 have fled to neighbouring Chad because of the militia attacks against civilians and the fighting between Sudanese Government forces and two Darfur rebel groups.
In South Darfur, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported Thursday that heavy tribal fighting near Ed Daein has displaced about 1.000 families, while there have also been reports of bandit attacks near the provincial centre of Nyala.
Sudanese authorities told officials from OCHA and the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Wednesday that they planned to relocate IDPs living near the South Darfur towns of Kalma and Kass to separate campsites this week.
Humanitarian agencies pressed Sudanese officials to consult IDPs in any plans for relocation, given the precarious security situation in Darfur and reports of continuing Janjaweed attacks.
In West Darfur, Sudanese officials said they will relocate IDPs at Garsilla to six separate sites, each one staffed by 100 police. The officials also invited IDP leaders to view the locations, according to OCHA.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has handed out mosquito nets in North Darfur and the World Health Organization (WHO) has started spraying two IDP camps to protect against malarial mosquitoes.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that in July, it distributed food to 941.000 IDPs in Darfur. The agency is also providing food to displaced Sudanese who were relocated from the Meshtel camp to the Abu Shouk camp but missed the regular food distribution because of delays in the registration process.
Those IDPs were moved the night before the Secretary-Generals visit in early July. On his arrival, Meshtel was empty save for a few mules. By late last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Rescue Committee had completed their registration of between 4.000 and 5.000 of those new arrivals at Abu Shouk.
Kilde: FNs nyhedstjeneste
