Annan warns of 'catastrophe'
2004-07-06 10:18
Addis Ababa - UN chief Kofi Annan warned on Tuesday that an even greater humanitarian catastrophe could unfold in Darfur unless action was taken in the war-ravaged region of western Sudan.
"Without action, the brutalities already inflicted on the civilian population of Darfur could be a prelude to even greater humanitarian catastrophe, a catastrophe that could destabilise the region," Annan told the opening session of the African Union's third summit in Addis Ababa.
Top UN officials have already described the situation in Darfur, where a rebel uprising in February 2003 prompted a vicious response from government forces and their allied militias, as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Human rights organisations have called it genocide.
More than 10 000 people have been killed, over a million displaced and a potential major famine provoked.
Annan, who visited Darfur last week, spoke of the ruined villages, the camps overflowing with sick and hungry women and children and the fear in the eyes of the people.
"The threat of further brutal violence and massive civilian suffering will only recede if the crisis is dealt with in a comprehensive way," he said.
"I remind the government (of Sudan) of its sacred duty to protect its civilians and the rebel groups of their responsibility and duty to respect the ceasefire and work with the government to end the conflict peacefully," he added.