2 August 2007 - Action Against Hunger welcomes the decision by the UN Security Council to deploy a peacekeeping force in Darfur but reiterates its call for a politically negotiated solution to the conflict.

• The unanimously agreed resolution and its immediate acceptance by the Sudanese Government certainly represent a step forward in international negotiations.

However, Action Against Hunger reiterates that:

• A peacekeeping force by nature should operate in an area at peace. Darfur continues to be a conflict ridden region, where attacks, physical violence and theft occur on a daily basis. Rebel groups have split into various factions whilst numerous uncontrollable armed groups continue to obstruct the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilian populations.
• The need for a negotiated political solution which includes all parties involved in the conflict remains a pre-requisite to reaching an effective and lasting solution.

Darfur continues to be a major humanitarian crisis; to date 200,000 people have been killed and 2.1 million people have been displaced (according to the United Nations). A substantial part of the population is still sheltering in vast camps for displaced persons, completely dependent on humanitarian assistance. Others are living in isolated rural areas with lack of security making it difficult for them to access humanitarian assistance.

                                                            ***ENDS***

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18 May 2007 - Action Against Hunger highlights importance of political solution to bring security to region. (Read more...)