African Bishops tell the International Community that it is Time for Action in Darfur

Last week the UN’s deadline for Sudan to restore security to the Darfur region passed, and Christian leaders in Africa since then have been urging the international community to take hard-line action against Khartoum for failing to comply.

As of yet no definite Security Council action has been decided, despite the efforts of America and the UK to take a sterner stance against the Sudan government.

On Wednesday 8th September the UN released a report stating that Khartoum had fulfilled some of its earlier pledges to the world body, but also that it had done very little to disarm the Janjaweed militia who have taken the brunt of the blame for the crisis against the communities of Darfur.

On July 30th the Security Council resolution seemed to take a firm stand against Khartoum, stating that if the government did not show that it was fulfilling its promises to disarm the militia within 30days and restore order, that action would be taken by the UN. However, even though this statement was made just over a month ago, the new report did not recommend any sanctions be put in place against the Sudanese government.

Jan Pronk, the UN’s special envoy to Sudan called for an expanded multinational force to be sent to Darfur to thwart the escalation of a conflict. The violence in the region has already taken approximately 30,000 to 50,000 lives, and currently the country has a mere 300 African Union troop presence.

The UN’s indecision on the matter has prompted an outcry from Sudan’s Catholic Bishops, who have called out to the international community to avoid further compromises and discussions. They released a statement saying, “We ask all concerned authorities to stop politicking. This is a time for action to save innocent people.”

The bishops also highlighted just how much was at stake in Darfur, in particular the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and elderly. They then concluded that there existed no further manoeuvring room for statements, discussions and deliberations, but action had to be taken as soon as possible.

Rev Mvume Dandala, the head of the All-African Council of Churches in Nairobi expressed that church leaders were unhappy with the world community’s failure to take action in the ever-escalating crisis.

He said, “Concern is that the situation in [Darfur] should not divert attention from the south Sudan.” He wanted to point out the fact that talks aimed at detailing the peace agreement between Khartoum and southern rebels had been suspended die to the current crisis.

This peace deal, between the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was intended to end the civil war, which has existed between the Arab Muslims in the north and the African Christians and animist south, for the past two-decades.

Earlier this week the UN’s World Health Organisation (WHO) warned in a report that there were increased chances of communicable diseases breaking out within the conflict zone. The report highlighted the health problems faced by the ever-suffering communities in the African country. Hepatitis-E, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, malaria and conflict-related trauma were all mentioned.

In particular that agency said that it was highly concerned by the lack of primary health-care services to the region; insufficient supplies of essential medicines and a lack of health personnel, both in Darfur and across the border in Eastern Chad, where many refugees have fled to.