Sudan has presented the United Nations a set of measures to meet the Security Council timetable to improve the dire situation in the Darfur region, the focal point of fighting between rebels and Government forces leading to what some UN officials have described as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail presented the plan Thursday in the capital Khartoum during the third meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM), co-chaired by Jan Pronk, Secretary-General Kofi Annans Special Representative, and attended for the first time by diplomats from some Arab States – Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
The JIM was established last month in a joint communique signed by the Secretary-General and Sudan to report on progress by the Government in fulfilling its pledges to disarm Janjaweed militias, provide security for the 1,2 million people forced from their homes and improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur, a region roughly the size of France.
The measures presented by Mr. Ismail included a list of areas that the Sudanese Government proposed could be made safe and secure within 30 days, with the UN and its partners responding to the proposal with some suggestions. The Government was expected to present its final choice of the selected areas over the weekend.
Mr. Pronk indicated that the 30-day Darfur Plan of Action – which he and Mr. Ismail agreed last week and which called for the Government to take “detailed steps” – could be seen as consisting of three phases of 10 days each.
In the first, the Government would decide on policies to meet the requirements, and then ensure that its policies would be implemented by all regional and local authorities in Darfur.
The impact of the process – in terms of a verifiable, substantial and irreversible improvement of the security situation – should be demonstrated ultimately during the remaining 10 days. – The first phase is behind us. The Government has indeed shown its political will to fulfil its commitments, but the coming two phases are crucial, said Mr. Pronk.
Mr. Ismail stated that, at Mr. Pronks request, he had sought information regarding reports of helicopter gunship bombings in South Darfur State from the Military Headquarters, which denied the allegations. Mr. Pronk indicated that there had been no confirmation of those reports.
Regarding conditions in Darfur, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it has received reports from internally displaced persons (IDPs) of increasing incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation. In West Darfur State, UN agencies said there had been a significant increase of Janjaweed presence in and around Sissi camp, further restricting the movement of IDPs.
At OCHAs request, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) last month carried out an assessment of camps and gatherings for IDPs in the Greater Darfur Region.
The report confirmed that living conditions in Darfur remain greatly below minimum standards and made recommendations for efficient and updated registration and tracking mechanism for IDPs, better coordination of assistance delivered, hygiene training and better water management.
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