'Darfur-like crisis in Chad'

2007-03-20 22:12

Washington - A "perfect storm of violence" is spilling from Sudan into Chad and Central African Republic (CAR), creating a possible new humanitarian crisis, a senior official told a US Congress panel on Tuesday.

Inter-ethnic violence that has plagued Sudan for years is now roiling the two countries bordering its western Darfur province, deputy assistant secretary of state James Swan told authorities.

Swan told the senate foreign relations subcommittee on Africa that millions of lives could be in jeopardy in the emerging humanitarian crisis.

"This rise in communal tensions, coupled by a security vacuum, has left local populations vulnerable to attacks by ethnic militias that engage in violence to settle scores, loot villages and raid cattle and livestock," he said.

As in Sudan's Darfur region, where ethnic Arab Janjaweed militias have led ruthless raids that have dispossessed and displaced hundreds of thousands of their countrymen, violence in neighbouring Chad for the most part "seems to be conducted by Chadian Arabs", said Swan.

"The recent increase in violence in Chad has endangered the lives of civilians, who are subject to attack by rebel groups, government forces and ethnic militias, and has reduced the number of secure humanitarian corridors," he said.

'Grave humanitarian crisis'

Swan said that recent travellers to the CAR report a "grave humanitarian crisis" brewing there as well.

He added that humanitarian aid groups working in both countries have curtailed their efforts because of the growing security risks.

"Attacks on civilians are widespread in both Chad and the CAR, and have left thousands of civilians without livelihood, shelter or food."

Swan said deployment of UN peacekeepers to Sudan, Chad and the CAR offers the best chance of protecting civilians and fostering regional stability.

"Our position remains that UN peacekeeping forces in Darfur, eastern Chad and northeastern CAR remain essential," said Swan.

"The United States' priorities in Chad and the CAR include limiting the regional impact of the Darfur conflict, fostering stability, protecting civilians, refugees, internally displaced persons and humanitarian workers, and further transformational diplomacy by promoting political reform and good governance."

The UN Security Council last month began drafting a resolution to address the volatile situation on Sudan's borders, as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended sending up to 11 000 peacekeepers to Chad and the CAR.

The United Nations estimates that about 200 000 people have died in the Darfur fighting and 2.5 million have been displaced since 2003.

- SAPA