September 1, 2004

NEW YORK, NY - As violence continues against the people of Darfur, Sudan, in what the United Nations has labeled the world's worst humanitarian crisis, global humanitarian agency Church World Service is urging Americans to contact U.S. Ambassador John Danforth and Secretary of State Colin Powell and demand that they:

Apply pressure to the president of Sudan to accept African Union troops as peacekeepers in Darfur

Urge the government of Sudan to expand the mandate of African Union troops to include protection of refugees and internally displaced people, as well as protection of humanitarian zones to ensure passage of desperately needed food and relief supplies

Ensure that the U.S. provide an additional $90 million in assistance for the people of Darfur, deemed an appropriate and proportionate contribution to help fund the shortfall of the United Nations appeal for Darfur

Monday was the deadline set by the United Nations for the government of Sudan to disarm and apprehend the Janjaweed militias blamed with the killing, rapes, atrocities, village burnings and massive displacement of more than 1.2 million primarily black African people in the Darfur region of Western Sudan- or, according to the UN demand, Sudan may face sanctions.

UN special envoy to Sudan Jan Pronk is scheduled to brief the Security Council on his findings in Darfur tomorrow (Thurs 9/2). Security Council members seem to be backing away from calling for immediate economic sanctions against Sudan.

While the Sudanese government and rebel faction groups- the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)- are attending off-again, on-again peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, fresh reports from Darfur say the violence continues by allegedly government-backed Janjaweed Arab militia and from air attacks reportedly by government military.

In an uncharacteristic admonishment of one African country to another, Nigeria warned Sudan on Monday that it risked international ostracism after AU ceasefire monitors confirmed a recent attack by Khartoum forces against Darfuri civilians.

According to the Sudan Tribune and other sources, 64 people were massacred in one Darfur village.

An initial contingent of 150 African Union troops from Rwanda have arrived in Darfur to serve as protection for AU cease-fire monitors who are assessing the situation in Darfur. Another 150 Nigerian troops left for the region on Monday.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir made it clear last week that no additional AU troops were welcome in Sudan, beyond the number his government initially agreed to with the AU concerning protection of its cease-fire monitors.

Church World Service Executive Director and CEO the Rev. John L. McCullough says that is not enough.

"Security in Darfur is by no means accomplished," McCullough said.

Speaking from Church World Service's New York headquarters, McCullough urged, "It is also necessary for African Union troops to help provide a secure humanitarian corridor for the ongoing delivery of assistance to the thousands of refugees and displaced people in the region.

"We therefore need to push the government of Sudan to accept an expanded role and mission of these African Union troops."

Over the past thirty days the Sudanese government employed what CWS' McCullough describes as "a strategy of lukewarm compliance to stall the international community, while pursuing its goal of destroying as many of the black African populations of Darfur as possible.

"Calls for Sudan to cease military support, disarm and apprehend Janjaweed militias conducting campaigns of terror against the people of Darfur have gone mostly unheeded," McCullough said.

UN reports said Tuesday that conditions are worsening for Darfuri refugees. Violence in Darfur is responsible for almost 50,000 deaths, and according to UN estimates, almost 500 refugees perish daily.

CWS Associate Director of International Emergency Response Programs Donna J. Derr reports that CWS' partners in Darfur, Action by Churches Together, Caritas International and Norwegian Church Aid, are increasing humanitarian efforts in areas outside Nyala.

Thousands of people remain in makeshift camps, with unconfirmed numbers of new arrivals seeking refuge in the area, says Derr.

ACT/Caritas operational teams have heard reports about renewed fighting in the area - reports that have been confirmed by other sources. According to the reports, some civilians have been killed.

In places like Mujaheria, the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have doubled lately, says Derr.

Despite massive food and relief aid efforts currently underway by the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Red Cross, more people are at risk of imminent starvation and death from disease, because of ongoing violence, the region's rainy season, and limited access to the region by humanitarian agencies. . In June, responding to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Darfur, Church World Service issued a $1.75 million emergency appeal.

Contributions to support relief work in Darfur may be sent to the Church World Service Sudan-Darfur Crisis Appeal #640B. Secure contributions may be made online visit our website at www.churchworldservice.org or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515.

Church World Service