France and Action Against Hunger Call for Urgent Resumption of Negotiations in Darfur

Paris, France — Médecins du Monde France (Doctors of the World) and Action contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger) have been present in Darfur since 2004. Tens of expatriates and more than a thousand national employees have acquired substantial knowledge of the area, working relentlessly to save the lives of people affected by the bloody civil war. In respect of our principles of impartiality and humanity and in line with our humanitarian mandate, we reserve the right to express some concerns.

Since May 2006 and following the Darfur Peace Agreement which only involved one minority faction from the rebel side, the security situation has considerably deteriorated and we have witnessed increasing fighting. Fueled by the fragmentation of the conflict, the deployment of Sudanese military forces, the atomisation of local Sudanese powers and inter-ethnic tensions (even in camps for displaced people), the increasing violence has had disastrous consequences for displaced people, exposing them to conflict and depriving them of humanitarian assistance.

Humanitarian access to populations has been significantly limited for six months and the resumption of conflict has caused the deaths of at least 20 humanitarian workers.

MDM France and ACF consider the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in Abuja counter-productive and ask the international community to bring all conflicting parties back to the negotiating table to implement a shared peace agreement which will improve the situation for populations in Darfur.

The deployment of blue helmets alone cannot resolve the crisis and provide security for populations and humanitarian actors; a political framework involving more actors, including the parties to the conflict, is indispensable. Otherwise, the conditions for a real security and thus humanitarian catastrophe could be created.

We ask the international community:

• to involve itself strongly to bring all parties to the conflict back to the negotiation table.
• to call for respect of humanitarian space by all parties to the conflict.
• to reinforce the capacity of the African Union to achieve its current mandate of protecting populations.
• to take into account the reality regarding security conditions on the ground in its search for a diplomatic solution.
• to take into account the opinion of actors on the ground who are better placed to evaluate the expectations of the populations and the concrete consequences of external military actions.

Some Numbers

ACF in Darfur:
Nutrition: El Fasher, Nyala, Kalma: 8180 children admitted
Food Aid in the north and south of Darfur: food distribution to approx. 200,000 people per month
Water and sanitation in the north and south of Darfur: water access to nearly 135,000 people

Médecins du Monde France in Darfur:
Primary Health Care: Kass, Nyala Kalma camp: 90,000 people
Maternal-infantile health: Kass, Nyala Kalma camp: 90,000 people
Mobile health clinics: Kass district and Jebel Mara: 45,000 people

Other Press Contact

Médecins du Monde
Annabelle Quenet
0033 (0)1 44 92 14 32
infomdm@medecinsdumonde.net

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger / Action Contre la Faim (ACF), an international relief and development organization committed to saving the lives of malnourished children and families, provides sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. For nearly three decades, ACF has pursued its vision of a world without hunger by combating hunger in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity.

Press Contact

Action Against Hunger - USA

James L. Phelan
Senior External Relations Officer, ACF-USA
Contact James Phelan
Direct: 212-967-7800 x108
Cell: 646-265-7796