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SUDAN: WORLD IS FAILING DARFUR SAYS UK’S BLAIR January 26, 2006
Apunyu Bonny
(SomaliNet) British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday that the global community was failing victims in the strife-torn Darfur region of Sudan.
British Premier spoke about the need for a surge in African Union peacekeepers and said there would be no improvement in the situation until black rebel groups and the Khartoum government begantalks.
"I think the international community is failing people in Darfur, those measures have got to include not just the immediate humanitarian help, but also to make sure that the AU peacekeeping force comes up to its full strength." He said:
At least 300 000 lives have been clamed and more than two million refugees have been displaced by the conflict in the region which began in February 2003 between rebels and the government, supported by Arab Janjaweed militias.
"The only way that the situation in Darfur is going to improve is when there are sufficient numbers of peacekeeping forces on the ground to keep the combatants apart." Blair said
He said it could only improve when "the process of dialogue and peace takes place, which we have been calling for, and obviously where the measures are in place to improve humanitarian help.
"We as the British government have been leading the efforts in this area and will continue to do so".
A total of 7 000-strong peacekeeping forces were deployed by The AU, which was mediating peace talks on the western Darfur region. Menzies Campbell, the acting leader of the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats, asked Blair if Britain would press for an increase in AU peacekeeper numbers at the United Nations Security Council.
Campbell asked if Blair would also press to ensure the force had strength and a mandate, plus a commitment that it would be fully funded, equipped and supported.
Blair replied: "We are doing precisely that. That is the reason why we have pressed for the AU peacekeeping force to be increased. We fully support the proper funding of that."
The head of the UN refugee agency on Tuesday appealed to the Security Council to act forcefully to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.