Sudan must guarantee aid workers’ safety
The Sudanese government has not complied with its international obligations laid down by the UN security council resolution 1556 of July this year.
The Janjaweed armed militia is still operating in the western region of Sudan and access is being hampered to those seeking to help those most in need.
Priority issues which must be addressed immediately include the following:
The Sudanese government must allow more African Union troops into Sudan to act as peacekeepers. This would help to find an African solution to an African problem. But currently this is not possible because the African Union does not have adequate resources to enforce any ceasefire.
Sudan must comply with its international obligations and it must allow safe passage for all aid workers and those seeking to provide assistance into newly constructed camps in the Darfur region. Once again, many Irish aid agencies including Trócaire, GOAL and Concern are to the forefront in the relief effort.
Either the Sudanese government positively responds to international demands for action or it must face broader international condemnation in the form of sanctions.
The European Union has allocated over 100 million in humanitarian assistance alone this year and it will continue to be the largest donor of aid to help the Sudanese people.
A delegation from the development committee in the European Parliament is visiting Sudan and I await with considerable interest their findings when they return.
The international community fully knows what its obligations are to the people of Sudan and it, too, must act accordingly.
Eoin Ryan MEP
European Parliament
Strasbourg.
