Expressing “grave concern” over the worsening humanitarian situation in Darfur, the UN Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) until 8 October, while also expressing its intention to renew it further.
The 15-member body voted unanimously on the move, which comes just two days after the African Union (AU) extended its mission in the strife-torn region until the end of this year.
It also follows a recent warning from Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Darfur is heading towards disaster unless UN peacekeepers are allowed in.
In a speech to the General Assembly’s annual debate in New York on Tuesday, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir rejected a proposed UN force as an attempt to re-colonize his country, criticizing last month’s Council resolution to deploy more than 17,000 peacekeepers in the region where UN officials warn that a man-made humanitarian catastrophe is looming.
They estimate that over 400,000 people have already lost their lives and some 2 million more have been driven from their homes in three years of fighting in Darfur between the Sudanese Government, allied militias and rebel forces.
Kilde: www.un.org
