Global Day For Darfur Should Focus On Peace

Global Day for Darfur should focus attention on peace initiatives

The Caritas confederation is hopeful that upcoming peace talks for Darfur could bring an end to the suffering and insecurity for millions of people in the region.
 
"While there are high expectations that peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur's rebel leaders, scheduled for late October, will bring positive outcomes for humanitarian assistance in the region, the situation remains grave," said Jack de Groot, Caritas Australia CEO.
 
"Caritas workers in Darfur continue to witness the appalling suffering of people on a daily basis. The situation on the ground for civilians and IDPs is still extremely dangerous," Mr de Groot said.
 
Following Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir last Friday, the Vatican expressed high expectations that peace talks would lead to the start of rebuilding and development in the region.
 
"A negotiated peace agreement, taking into account the views of the various Darfuri communities is essential to achieving long-term improvement in the situation. This process is essential to addressing the root causes of the conflict," Mr de Groot said.
 
"The nature of the conflict has become more complex, factionalised and inter-communal over time. People continue to be displaced from their homes at a steady rate with an estimated 170,000 people displaced in the first half of 2007.
 
"An immediate ceasefire must take effect and the hybrid force committed for Darfur must be deployed quickly so that there can be an improvement in the security situation and to ensure the effective implementation of humanitarian assistance," Mr de Groot said.
 
The Caritas Confederation has been in Darfur from the outset of this crisis, working with ACT International through a network of faith-based and Sudanese aid agencies. It has been providing shelter, clean water and sanitation, as well as building health clinics and schools for people living in the camps.
 
Insecurity has hampered relief efforts and resulted in the deaths of some aid workers. An ACT-Caritas staff member was killed in June
 
Darfur remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. At least 200,000 people have died as a result of the conflict and there are currently an estimated 2.2 million displaced people in Darfur.

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