17/08/04

Concern abuses continue in Darfur

TEAR Fund New Zealand is concerned human rights abuses continue in Darfur, despite assurances from the Khartoum government hostilities have ceased.

Human rights organisations are reporting the rape and assault of black Sudanese continues.

There is also speculation Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, are being incorporated into police and government security forces. Khartoum's security forces are responsible for protecting the civilian population. "We are calling for Khartoum to accept the offer by The African Union to significantly increase its ceasefire monitoring force," says TEAR Fund Executive Director Stephen Tollestrup.

At least 30,000 people have been killed in the Darfur region since February 2003, when pro-Khartoum, Arab militia initiated attacks against black Africans.

A further 1.2 million have been displaced by the conflict, 200,000 of whom have fled to neighboring Chad.

TEAR Fund is working through the Global Alliance Relief and Development partnership to respond to the needs of Sudanese refugees.

ENDS

© Scoop Media