Pressure On Sudan Until The Commitments Are Met

Responding to questions, he said a large public protest in Khartoum today against the UN was not unexpected. “Sometimes governments use demonstrations to put pressure on the UN and to send a message to the international community.”

At the same time, he cautioned that the Sudanese Government “also has to be aware that it has the responsibility for the protection of the UN staff and the UN facilities.”

Earlier, Jan Pronk, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, told UN Radio that while today’s demonstration in Khartoum was not violent, it was “not making life easy” for UN staff in Sudan. He said security in the IDP camps had generally improved, apart from a few incidents, but conditions are more dangerous outside the camps.

Mr. Pronk, who held talks this week with senior Sudanese officials, said he had asked them to address this problem so that people feel safe when they go to fetch water and firewood.

The envoy said the political focus was now on reviving peace talks between the Sudanese Government and two Darfur rebel groups, expected to resume later this month.

Now that Sudan has lifted previous obstacles to access for aid workers and relief supplies, the international community must make available more funding, staff and supplies to stave off a humanitarian disaster, he said.

Aside from the large number of IDPs, about 200,000 people now live as refugees in neighbouring Chad because of the Janjaweed attacks and the fighting between the rebels and Government forces.