UN: Thousands forced to flee

2004-09-06 11:31

Khartoum - A United Nations spokesperson on Sunday said the world body keeps receiving reports of clashes continuing throughout Darfur, where up to 4 000 people are believed to have been forced from their villages in recent days.

The Sudanese government has been under intense international pressure to do more to end the violence in Sudan's three Darfur states, where a 19-month conflict has killed an estimated 30 000 people and driven more than one million from their homes into displacement camps inside Sudan or into neighbouring Chad.

"We keep receiving reports of insecurity in Darfur that is leading to the further displacement" of Darfurians from their homes, UN spokesperson Radhia Achouri said during a telephone interview.

Her comments follow the release of a report by the UN's Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which says violence in North Darfur has forced thousands from their homes since late August.

World's worst humanitarian crisis

The report said attacks on villages south of Zam Zam, 16km south of the regional capital, Al-Fasher, "have resulted in a population movement of around 3-4 000 persons," adding that about half of the people have been settled in a displacement camp in Zam Zam.

The United Nations describes the situation in Darfur as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It has also called on the Sudanese government to do more to disarm Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, blamed for attacking African villagers in Darfur.

The United States accuses Sudanese authorities of backing the militia, a claim which Khartoum rejects.

A July 30 Security Council resolution gave the government 30 days to work to disarm the Janjaweed or face possible diplomatic or economic sanctions.

After the deadline passed, UN envoy to Sudan, Jab Pronk, delivered a report to the Security Council this week, in which he concluded that the time for sanctions "had not yet arrived and that we should give the government a few more weeks."

The United States reacted angrily to that recommendation, saying there was evidence Sudan's government was backing Arab militias in Darfur.

European Union foreign ministers on Saturday reaffirmed that they would push for UN sanctions against Sudan, including a possible oil boycott and cutting EU financial aid to the impoverished country if its government does not move to end the fighting in Darfur.

The United Nations has also credited Sudan with improving the security situation, but called for more to be done. - AP

- AP