The historic signing of the highly anticipated Sudan peace agreement has been warmly welcomed by Christian aid agencies in Africa. Christian Aid and Tearfund issued a statement along with four other leading agencies in Nairobi. In the statement they called for the international community to ensure that the new peace deal can be nurtured and developed.

The spokesperson representing the agencies, Cynthia Gaigals said, "The agreement offers Sudan the best hope yet for peace. For millions of displaced people it will signal the start of their journey home. It is the start of the process of healing for the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people who have borne the brunt of this cruel conflict."

Officials have reported their concerns and have stated that the international community must continue to coordinate in unison with the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, and guarantee that the new peace deal is adopted and fully put in place.

Gaigals said, "The next six months are the most fragile for this fledgling peace deal. A strong peacekeeping mission must be deployed quickly by the United Nations. Sudan has been ravaged by civil war for generations, and donors need to commit funds for essential development."

Criticism has come from the agencies, however, from sources saying that even though the agreement has been established, not enough attention has been given to the root of the problem, and the reason for the conflict. This, some say, is the reason for continued fighting in the Darfur region.

In particular, Christian Aid reported that the separate war in western Sudan, in Darfur was not properly taken into account and that this area was in fact the greatest threat to the stability of the region.

On 15th January there will be a meeting between the worldwide donor countries in Oslo, Norway, and calls are already being made that the donor countries must commit to providing the funds to help the country back from the brink of devastation from the civil war.

Gaigals said, "In Darfur nearly two million people have been driven from their homes, continued abuses and unrelenting attacks are a tragic light on the peace process."

On Sunday in Nairobi the Sudan government and the rebels signed the finalised peace deal, which concludes a two-year effort to end the 21-year civil war in South Sudan.

The six agencies that are working within the region are CARE international, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam International, Tearfund, Save the Children and Christian Aid.