Menu
01/10/2004
International police force 'must' be sent to Darfur
An international police presence is needed in Sudan's troubled Darfur region to ensure its vast population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are protected, two senior United Nations human rights officials told the Security Council today.
Likening Darfur to a "prison without walls", High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Juan Méndez said that the only way to overcome the IDPs' lack of trust that the police will protect them - especially if they venture out of the camps for wood and food or try to return home - is to include international police officers.
"I think a mere increase in their number [the Sudanese police] is unlikely to restore the lack of faith and actually overcome the sense of insecurity and fear that is prevalent in IDP camps," Mrs Arbour said.
"In some camps, the number of police officers is clearly insufficient: say five police officers just outside a camp of 50,000 IDPs. But it's pretty clear that even when the Sudanese police presence has been considerably increased, it still has virtually no interaction with the camp community and people have no confidence [in them]."
She went on to call for an expansion of the size and mandate of the force of African Union (AU) ceasefire monitors, saying they had shown "an impressive dedication to their work given their limited resources and numbers".
The number of IDPs in Darfur has been swelling since last year to 1.45 million, when Janjaweed militias began attacking villagers after two rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese Government. More than 200,000 refugees have also fled to neighbouring Chad.
Mrs Arbour said that the UN would not support the government's policy of encouraging IDPs to return to their home villages until they felt assured the process would be both safe and voluntary.
Mr Méndez said the international community must be vigilant in the weeks and months ahead.
"In my mind the vulnerability of certain ethnic groups in Darfur is such, and the instability of the situation generally, that we have not turned the corner on preventing genocide from happening in the future or even in the near future," he said.
The UN is in the process of setting up a commission of inquiry to consider whether genocide has happened after the Security Council called for such a commission in its most recent resolution on Darfur.
(gmcg/mb)
Likening Darfur to a "prison without walls", High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Juan Méndez said that the only way to overcome the IDPs' lack of trust that the police will protect them - especially if they venture out of the camps for wood and food or try to return home - is to include international police officers.
"I think a mere increase in their number [the Sudanese police] is unlikely to restore the lack of faith and actually overcome the sense of insecurity and fear that is prevalent in IDP camps," Mrs Arbour said.
"In some camps, the number of police officers is clearly insufficient: say five police officers just outside a camp of 50,000 IDPs. But it's pretty clear that even when the Sudanese police presence has been considerably increased, it still has virtually no interaction with the camp community and people have no confidence [in them]."
She went on to call for an expansion of the size and mandate of the force of African Union (AU) ceasefire monitors, saying they had shown "an impressive dedication to their work given their limited resources and numbers".
The number of IDPs in Darfur has been swelling since last year to 1.45 million, when Janjaweed militias began attacking villagers after two rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese Government. More than 200,000 refugees have also fled to neighbouring Chad.
Mrs Arbour said that the UN would not support the government's policy of encouraging IDPs to return to their home villages until they felt assured the process would be both safe and voluntary.
Mr Méndez said the international community must be vigilant in the weeks and months ahead.
"In my mind the vulnerability of certain ethnic groups in Darfur is such, and the instability of the situation generally, that we have not turned the corner on preventing genocide from happening in the future or even in the near future," he said.
The UN is in the process of setting up a commission of inquiry to consider whether genocide has happened after the Security Council called for such a commission in its most recent resolution on Darfur.
(gmcg/mb)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 October 2004
Darfur aid hampered by security and transport problems
Lack of security and restrictions on transport are hampering the delivery and distribution of humanitarian relief to the massive population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the strife-torn Darfur region, the UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) has reported.
Darfur aid hampered by security and transport problems
Lack of security and restrictions on transport are hampering the delivery and distribution of humanitarian relief to the massive population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the strife-torn Darfur region, the UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) has reported.
15 September 2004
200 people dying in Darfur refugee camps every day: report
More than 200 refugees are dying every day in North and West Darfur, according to a shock assessment by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Disease is rife in the makeshift camps in Darfur due to overcrowding and unhygienic conditions, with diarrhoea cited as the leading cause of death.
200 people dying in Darfur refugee camps every day: report
More than 200 refugees are dying every day in North and West Darfur, according to a shock assessment by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Disease is rife in the makeshift camps in Darfur due to overcrowding and unhygienic conditions, with diarrhoea cited as the leading cause of death.
10 August 2004
UN to vaccinate children trapped behind Sudan's rebel frontlines
Rebel groups in Sudan's western Darfur region have agreed to allow some 500,000 children cut off from regular health services to be vaccinated against such potentially killer diseases as measles and polio, the UN has announced.
UN to vaccinate children trapped behind Sudan's rebel frontlines
Rebel groups in Sudan's western Darfur region have agreed to allow some 500,000 children cut off from regular health services to be vaccinated against such potentially killer diseases as measles and polio, the UN has announced.
21 July 2004
Concerns raised over Sudanese plan to return 200,000 refugees
The Sudanese government has told humanitarian officials operating in the troubled Darfur region that plans are being made for the return of about 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their towns and villages – prompting UN agencies to stress that relocation must be voluntary.
Concerns raised over Sudanese plan to return 200,000 refugees
The Sudanese government has told humanitarian officials operating in the troubled Darfur region that plans are being made for the return of about 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their towns and villages – prompting UN agencies to stress that relocation must be voluntary.
31 August 2004
Darfur refugees still at risk of 'rape and violence'
The displaced inhabitants of the Sudanese region of Darfur are traumatised and humiliated, and remain at constant risk of rape and violence, a UN humanitarian official has said.
Darfur refugees still at risk of 'rape and violence'
The displaced inhabitants of the Sudanese region of Darfur are traumatised and humiliated, and remain at constant risk of rape and violence, a UN humanitarian official has said.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
