Thousands at risk as Darfur peace agreement delayed

Social justice news
May 2006

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Thousands at risk as Darfur peace agreement delayed
Unless the warring parties of Darfur reach a peace agreement, hundreds of thousands of lives will be needlessly put at risk, according to Britain's Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). CAFOD is a leading member of a programme in Darfur which helps around 500,000 people providing food, health care, clean water and sanitation. This year it is expected that the programme will have to make serious cuts in the absence of new funding for Darfur. Unless the peace talks succeed, then it is highly likely that the displaced population will need high levels of support well into 2007.

Sudanese rebels cautiously welcomed U.S.-backed proposals to salvage a peace agreement for Darfur on May 4, and the international community urged them to finally accept the deal aimed at resolving a crisis that has cost at least 180,000 lives.

Four pages of last-ditch revisions to the 85-page peace plan drawn up by African Union mediators offered concessions to the rebels on integrating fighters into the Sudan armed forces, compensation for war victims and power-sharing. They were presented to the warring parties hours before a midnight May 4 deadline to reach an agreement, already extended twice since April 30.

But as that time limit approached late Thursday, diplomats said host Nigeria was pressing for another 24-hour extension.

Rebel negotiators, who rejected the initial deal but faced intense pressure from the European Union, Britain and the United States to compromise, were optimistic. Talks have been continuing for nearly two years in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

If the talks fail once again then the future of the two million people forced from their homes by the conflict in the Sudanese region will be put at risk. Already the United Nations World Food Programme has halved rations in Darfur due to lack of funds and money is also running short for many of the aid agencies working in the region. Without the support of the humanitarian community, many lives in the region could be at risk.

CAFOD's Director of International Programmes, Lesley-Anne Knight said: "The one thing that the people of Darfur need above all else is peace. Unless peace is restored to Darfur, people will not be able to return home, they will not be able to support their families and they will continue to be forced to depend on assistance from aid agencies such as CAFOD.

"With funding to support the humanitarian effort in Darfur dwindling, CAFOD, along with other major aid agencies, now faces the prospect of having to make difficult decisions about where to make cuts in our programme. Although we will try and mitigate the effects of those cuts as much as possible, it is unavoidable that they affect people on the ground who are in desperate need of support.

"If peace is not restored and the level of funding available further drops, then CAFOD, together with other major aid agencies, will be forced to consider the future shape of its humanitarian programme. Further lives could be needlessly lost."

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