Aid pledged to Darfur victims

2004-07-14 14:14

Khartoum - The head of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies visited Darfur and pledged to provide aid to victims in a conflict that has killed up to 30 000 people and driven 1 million from their homes.

Juan Manuel Suarez del Toro, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, met with Sudanese Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Ibrahim Hamid on Tuesday. He was the latest of a series of top diplomats and officials to speak to the Khartoum government about the western Darfur province.

Del Toro told reporters his organisation was prepared to give all the aid required to Darfur's people, adding that stability in the province would help stabilise the region.

The world and the Sudanese government must co-operate to settle the conflict, he said.

Darfur has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. A rebellion by the inhabitants of African origin led to a counter-insurgency by government troops and pro-government Arab militia. Aid and rights groups accuse the Khartoum government of backing the Arab militia that have carried out looting, destruction and ethnic evictions. The government has denied the charge.

In visits earlier this month, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the government must rein in the militia and allow people to return to their homes. On Monday, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned the government that the Darfur conflict must be resolved before it could expect further aid from his country and the European Union.

Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir has promised to disarm all militiamen.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Naguib al-Kheir Abdel Wahab told reporters after a meeting with Del Toro that the government would do all it can to ease the situation in Darfur and fulfil its commitments to the international community.

- AP