UN mission to assess Darfur plight concludes

An observer group of UN staff, Sudanese officials and representatives of concerned countries today wrapped up its three-day visit to Darfur, where local civilians have been fleeing militia attacks, by touring a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region's west.

The group - which is attempting to verify whether Sudan is meeting its pledges to disarm the Arab Janjaweed militias and restore security to Darfur - will report its findings to the next meeting of a joint Sudanese-UN body charged with making sure the commitments are achieved

After visiting the camp for IDPs at the town of Mornei in West Darfur, the group headed back to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

The UN and Sudan set up the Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM) after signing a communiqué on 3 July outlining their pledges to alleviate what has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. This week's observer mission was organized through JIM.

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said that the security situation "remains highly unstable" in Darfur's north, with humanitarian agencies there reporting that the Sudanese government has been pressuring IDPs to leave the temporary camps and return to their home villages.

About 1.2 million IDPs are scattered across Darfur, a region the size of France, while at least another 180,000 refugees have escaped to neighbouring Chad. The displacement began last year when two rebel groups began fighting government forces and the Janjaweed started attacking civilians.

At UN Headquarters in New York, Security Council members scheduled consultations on a draft resolution designed to address the crisis.

In a separate development, the UN has received another $13 million for its humanitarian appeal for Darfur and Chad since Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke out last week about the major shortfall in funds.

So far, however, only $158 million has been received - well below the target amount of $349 million.

(gmcg)