Sudan dismisses Blair threats, welcomes UN mission

Note a 'UN sanctioned' Plan B. SudanTribune article : Sudan dismisses Blair threats, welcomes UN mission - excerpt:

A spokesman for the British prime minister, citing comments made by Blair last week, said on Wednesday Britain would agree to a no-fly zone over the war-ravaged region as part of a United Nations-sanctioned "Plan B" to halt the violence there.

"Statements like this ... do not enhance peace," said Al-Samani al-Wasiyla, the Sudanese state minister for foreign relations. "They prolong the crisis," he told Reuters.

"We do not deal with media statements ... and we do not need threats to deal with the international community," he said.

Sudan gov't minister says 'a million soldiers' could not pacify region

Dec 14 2006 AFP report (via CFD) excerpt:

"Even if you sent a million soldiers to Darfur, that would not solve the problem," Sudan's minister for international cooperation, Al Tigani Salih Fedail, told journalists Thursday.

"That's not the issue. You only have to look at the examples of Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

"The problem is political. We have to totally respect the agreement and stop those who seek to sabotage it," the minister said.

"Without the implementation of the (peace) agreement, it is very difficult to disarm people," he said.

The minister was in Geneva for the launch of the UN Work Plan for Sudan for 2007, which is targeting 1.8 billion dollars (1.4 billion euros) to fund humanitarian, recovery and development projects in the country.

This represents nearly half of the total 3.7 billion dollars requested by the Secretary General for humanitarian assistance worldwide in 2007, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

Sudan's Darfur death toll 134,000 not 400,000? Death estimates for Darfur inaccurate - US study

Cartoon by Gerald Scarfe courtesy The Sunday Times 10 Dec 2006 (hat tip The Sudanese Thinker originally via Sudan Fairytale)

Death estimates for Darfur inaccurate - US study

Reuters report here below leads us to believe about 134 000 people died in Darfur and eastern Chad from September 2003 to January 2005. It does not say if the deaths were due to disease, lack of food, etc.

The population of Darfur is estimated at around 6.5 million. Darfur is the size of France. Nomads cross borders unchecked. Sudan is the size of Europe.

One wonders if the IDPs are better off in UN camps. Without security, money, land and rights, who would want to move away? Maybe the camps will develop into towns.

Not found any more news of NRC. Can't help wondering who is running Kalma camp, home of 93,000 IDPs.

Dec 12 2006 Reuters report (via Business Day) - excerpt:

Death toll statistics in Darfur vary widely, ranging from 70 000 to about the 400 000 estimated by the group Coalition for International Justice over a 26-month period.

The GAO report had most confidence in Belgium-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, which said about 134 000 people died in Darfur and eastern Chad from September 2003 to January 2005.

The State Department did not provide any updated death tolls for Darfur but US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last September "hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been murdered" in the conflict.

"The United States has called this tragedy by the only name that captures its meaning, the only name it deserves - genocide," said Rice in a speech to the Africa Society.

A study published last September in the journal Science also said the US State Department's Darfur death toll underestimated the count by "hundreds of thousands" of lives.

That study by Northwestern University in Illinois, which was not examined by the GAO report, put the toll at 200 000 or more.

Estimating death tolls in hostile environments is a difficult and dangerous job and the GAO said there were numerous challenges in Darfur, including lack of access.

Limitations in estimates of Darfur's population before and during the crisis may also have led to over or underestimates of the death toll, said the report.

Another problem was the varying use of baseline mortality rates - the rate of deaths that would have occurred without the crisis - may have led to overly high or low estimates.

"To safeguard the US government’s credibility as a source of reliable death estimates, GAO recommends ensuring greater transparency regarding the data and methods used for such estimates," it said.

- - -

Note Nov 29 2004 Darfur population figures: 6 million, 6.5 million, or 6-7 million

Lifeline for Darfur in Chad

Dec 13 2006 Lifeline for Darfur - Comment - Times Online

This disaster can be salvaged only by new thinking. Bosnia gave the concept of "safe havens" a bad name, but havens are desperately needed. Create them not in Sudan, but in Chad.

Chad's Government wants the UN there, not least to warn Khartoum off destabilising Chad by supporting rebel groups there.

Chad already shelters thousands of Darfur refugees and will need to find room for more, as the murderers close in on the Darfur camps.

The responsibility to do what should now be done rests with the Security Council -- it must take a clear and coherent position against mass murder -- and so the onus (and the ultimate blame) is on Russia and China.

Nicely put.

UN Pronk felt let down by Security Council and worries Sudan govt thinks now it can get away with anything

AP report (via CFD) Pronk Says Security Council Failed to Support Him - excerpt:

"I think that I didn't get sufficient support from the side of the Security Council," Mr. Pronk told the Netherlands' state broadcaster NOS on Tuesday, in his first interview since returning from Sudan.

"My worry is that the [Sudanese] government thinks now that it can get away with anything," he said.

"If they [the Sudanese government] have gotten away with decapitating a [UN] mission without consequences, they'll go further," Mr. Pronk told the NOS. "We're seeing that happen already. And I have large worries about the possibilities left for the UN in that case."

SLA command denounces Bassey's move to hold conference

Dec 11, 2006 (PARIS) SudanTribune article : SLA command denounces Bassey's move to hold conference.

UNDP Sudan - Tokten Vacancies

From Black Kush, a blog from Darfur:

Are you a Sudanese living abroad? Do you want to go home and serve your country?

The UNDP TOKTEN programme is the best for you. Let us turn the brain drain to brain gain. Your country needs you!

AMIS vehicle hijacked + helicopter crew taken hostage and released

From Soldier of Africa: Nightime Observation in Darfur Dec 10 2006:

Tonight an AMIS vehicle was hijacked close to our house and the night has seen a moderate volume of gunfire. It has prompted us to rehearse our emergency plan and we are constantly observing. All fire has come from the East, South-East and North East. Unconfirmed reports has it that Al Junaynah, 304km to the West, is under threat of attack. An AMIS helicopter crew who were taken hostage yesterday were also released earlier this afternoon. Things are definitely escalating ... the question is, when and where will it peak and how bad will it be.

Best of luck.

Mark Fiore cartoon: Alliance of Wimpiness

New flash cartoon by Mark Fiore: Alliance of Wimpiness.

[hat tip Darfur: An Unforgivable Hell on Earth]

2 AU staff kidnapped in Sudan's Darfur

Dec 11 2006 Reuters report - excerpt:

Armed men kidnapped two African Union military personnel in Sudan, the AU said on Monday.

"The force commander of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is utterly dismayed at the hijacking yesterday...of an AMIS vehicle together with two military personnel by unidentified armed men," the AU said in a statement.

The AU called on the kidnappers to release the two and their vehicle immediately and unconditionally.

No more details were immediately available.

All flights to Darfur cancelled today & journalists forbidden from entering region - Hundreds gather in Boston for a candlelight vigil for Darfur

Interruption of break to file this copy of an online news report dated 10 Dec 2006 at WHDH-TV New England News, entitled Hundreds gather in Boston for a candlelight vigil for Darfur:

BOSTON -- A local coalition is working to stop the slaughter in Sudan, following more killings this weekend.

Hundreds gathered in Copley Square tonight for a candlelight vigil.

Activists are calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Darfur region of Sudan.

More than 200,000 people have been killed since ethnic Africans rebelled against the Arab-led government in 2003.

Just today, government-supported militias executed thirty refugees, either shooting them or burning them alive. Millions have run from their homes.

The Sudanese government is accused of supporting the militia blamed for most of the killing.

All flights to Darfur were cancelled today.

Authorities have also forbid foreign journalists from entering the region.

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

A Reminder (by a peacekeeper in Sudan's Darfur)

Short break. Back soon.



Just a little reminder of who the victims of this conflict are. He is still smiling after his family had to flee after their village was attacked.

Photo and caption by Werner K, Soldier of Africa Dec 2006.

The 2006 Weblog Awards: Best Middle East or Africa Blog: The Sudanese Thinker

Congrats to Drima (a very bright young Sudanese chap in Malaysia who is going places) of The Sudanese Thinker on being nominated for 2006 Weblog Awards: Best Middle East or Africa Blog.

Doubt if total number of votes registered reflect number of voters. Individuals may be able to vote more than once by logging off and returning under a different ISP code. Whatever, it's great to see The Sudanese Thinker listed, it's a real winner with Drima's loyal readers.



Photo of Drima at UN HQ NY Aug 2006. See Drima, The Sudanese Thinker at the UN: Where are the educated political parties that should be governing Sudan?

Bashir: Africa's most deluded leader

Sometimes you have to ask what planet Africa's dictators inhabit. I used to think that President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe led the field when it came to utterly delusional statements. Now I believe that President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan narrowly takes the prize.

Read more by the Telegraph's Africa Correspondent David Blair (Telegraph blogs 6 Dec 2006, Africa's most deluded leader)

Militia kills at least 20 civilians in West Darfur

Dec 10 2006 IOL report - Militia kills at least 20 civilians in Darfur:

At least 20 civilians are dead after Sudanese militiamen ambushed a convoy of refugees in western Darfur, the UN said today.

The pro-government janjaweed militia used rocket-propelled grenades to attack a commercial convoy of refugees returning on Saturday to the town of El Geneina, an international aid worker said.

Janjaweed set fire to the bodies, and rioting erupted around the town today, he said.

"We have confirmed reports of at least 20 dead," said Radhia Achouri, spokeswoman for the United Nations in Sudan.

The aid worker put the death toll higher, saying as many as 30 people had been killed in the attack.

International Human Rights Day: Alarms protest over Darfur rapes

Dec 10 2006 PA report (via Guardian) Alarms protest over Darfur rapes:

Hundreds of demonstrators have set off rape alarms outside Downing Street in a protest against sexual violence in Darfur.

About 200 protesters marched from the Sudanese embassy in central London to No 10 before delivering a formal letter to the Government calling for political pressure to stop the crisis.

The event is part of International Human Rights Day, which has this year been adopted by campaigners from around the globe as a day of action to demand peace in Darfur.

Human rights groups around the world are calling for the immediate deployment of an international peacekeeping force with a mandate to protect civilians.

Fierce battle erupts in east Chad - BBC

Heavy fighting has taken place between Chad's government troops and rebels in the easy of the country, both sides are claiming victory, BBC reported 9 Dec 2006.

1 killed as bandits storm El Fasher, N Darfur- ex-rebels

Dec 9 2006 Reuters report - excerpt:

Scores of militia gunmen attacked a market in El Fasher, the main town of Sudan's Darfur region on Saturday, killing one civilian and looting shops, a former rebel group and a witness said.

The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the only group that signed a May peace deal with the government, said scores of vehicles carrying gunmen had stormed the town.

"This force is opening fire in the town and the town is in deep chaos now," SLM spokesman Saif Haroun told Reuters.

A U.N. official said there was shooting in El Fasher but had no further details. The African Union, which maintains a 7,000-strong force in Darfur, had no immediate comment.

Haroun said the gunmen who stormed the market on Saturday "were not known to the people of the town" but were "probably Janjaweed fighters."

"There is no presence of groups that rejected the (peace) agreement in the region," he said. "They appear to be coming from the direction of the Chadian border," he said.

Note, "probably" Janjaweed. How can you tell the difference between a bandit and a janjaweed? Werner says you can't. Since they don't wear uniforms but do carry firearms they're all bandits, politically motivated or not.

See Soldier of Africa: Answers to Questions by Werner, a South African soldier currently blogging while serving in Darfur - excerpt:

How can you tell who is a bandit and who is a janjaweed?
Answer: I wish I knew. The one is politically motivated and the other is not.

Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization, Inc.

See info links at Sudanese American Orphaned Rehabilitation Organization, Inc. - "Serving the Sudanese Children Orphaned by Civil war"

Important: Norway spearheads joint protest with EU, USA and Canada against expulsion of NRC from Darfur

Don't you think there is more to this story than meets the eye? I do. If you have the time and inclination, check out the links in this entry. It may take a few hours to read the reports but it gives an idea of why I think this is an important story. We'll probably never know what's really behind most of the news here but one thing is sure: Norway has a knack for producing great peacemakers and has done loads to help broker peace for South Sudan, Norway has the world's respect in this regard.

Here's the story. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) coordinates all humanitarian assistance in Kalma camp, South Darfur and helps to provide protection for vulnerable groups. Surely NRC can't be at all bad or wrong. So why has its contract been so badly messed around with by Khartoum? To intimidate, muzzle, suppress, oppress? Is it about rape reports (remember what happened to MSF and its rape report)? Is it about NRC speaking out the truth? If so, what's wrong with that? The truth hurts, but facts are facts. Face facts, if they are the truth Mr Bashir.

Today's news out of Oslo (via Sudan Tribune) tells us the Norwegian government is protesting against expulsion of NRC from Darfur. If NRC is no longer coordinating the camp and helping to protect the residents, who or what is taking its place and why? Who is running the camp, the Government of Sudan? What has happened to NRC's aid workers in Kalma and its camp coordinator, Alfredo Zamudio? God bless them all. Surely such repeated disruption must, once again, impact on the 93,000 Kalma camp residents, of which 19.000 are children enrolled on NRC's education programme.

NRC has worked for displaced persons since 1946. It is a private foundation, one of the largest humanitarian organisations in Norway. Norway was pivotal in brokering peace and prosperity for Sudan. UN aid chief Jan Egeland is from Norway.

So what is really going on that journalists and field workers in Sudan can't report? Sudanese authorities continuously suspend the Norwegian Refugee Council in Darfur and do not respond to its repeated requests for dialogue aimed at addressing and resolving underlying reasons for the suspension. Why? What are the underlying reasons? Why aren't Sudanese officials and journalists properly reporting on and investigating this important news?

Sudan's president ought to explain why his government bullies the NRC and IDPs, and treats them with such contempt and disrespect. Does Mr Bashir say he is Sudanese or Arab? Or black African? How can one tell which is which?

NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL CLOSING DOWN: DEEP REGRETS FOR LEAVING DARFUR

Via Norwegian Refugee Council [www.nrc.no]

Due to impossible working conditions in Darfur, NRC is forced to close down its entire humanitarian program in Darfur.

NRC's activities in South Darfur has been suspended for two months, the 5th suspension since the start up in mid 2004. NRC has been promised an answer from Sudanese authorities regarding the future status of NRC's humanitarian work in Darfur. However, that answer has not been given, forcing NRC to pull out.

Having repeatedly stressed that NRC is prepared to enter into dialogue with the Sudanese authorities regarding the resumption of our humanitarian work in South Darfur, this decision has been the most difficult I have had to make as Secretary General of NRC. We are all aware that the humanitarian needs are greater than ever in South Darfur, said NRC Secretary General, Tomas C. Archer, who recently met with the authorities both in South Darfur and Khartoum.

NRC's greatest concern is the 300.000 IDPs in South Darfur who from this week have been directly affected by the departure:

93.000 in Kalma camp
19.000 of these, children enrolled in our education program
128.000 in Gereida camp
10.000 in Otash camp
52.000 IDPs receiving food aid in Nyala

Closing down is the very last option. However, the frequent disruption of our humanitarian work, such as suspension for a sum total of 210 days, is forcing us to take this very difficult decision. We cannot work when the authorities suspend us continuously and do not respond to our repeated requests for dialogue aimed at addressing and resolving underlying reasons for this action, Archer said.

Contact:
Head of International Department, Jens Mjaugedal +47 90 78 38 39
Media and Communications officer, Astrid Sehl +47 92 28 47 52

Related stories

FURTHER READING

Feb 14 2006 SLA shot down gov't helicopter in Shearia, South Darfur

Hyperlinks to following reports are in original entry:
Feb 7, 2006 Controlled anarchy at Kalma camp in South Darfur
Feb 4, 2006 South Darfur: Mershing's entire population of 55,000 fled to Menawashi after raids by Janjaweed
Feb 3, 2006 AU says SLA attacks in Shearia and Golo provoked Sudanese forces and prompted reprisal attacks by Janjaweed
Feb 1, 2006 South Darfur: Janjaweed attack IDP camps Kele, Silo, Tege, Um Gozein, Ton Kittir - Mass exodus from Mershing - Joint Sudan/AU forces to patrol?
Jan 29, 2006 Major escalation of violence in Jebel Marra Darfur forces aid agencies to evacuate - UN condemns attack by SLA on Golo
Jan 19. 2006 Firewood patrols for IDPs at Kalma Camp, South Darfur

CONTROLLED ANARCHY AT KALMA CAMP IN NYALA, SOUTH DARFUR

Reminder: Norway's NRC has many large humanitarian programmes in Sudan, In Nyala South Darfur, NRC cooordinates humanitarian work in Sudan's largest camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Kalma, where 93,000 people live in temporary shelters. NRC distributes food to more than 50.000 IDPs in South Darfur, and it depends on a continuous monitoring of the security situation, which enables staff to implement field operations without in the process risking their own lives.

Apr 11 2005 Norway Post - Sudan International Donor's Conference held in Oslo - UN & Partners 2005 Work Plan - Sudan may face renewed civil war

Feb 2 2006 Controlled anarchy at Kalma camp in South Darfur, Sudan: 35 year old Andrew Heavens (pictured below) is a journalist based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Meskel Square is his weblog about Ethiopia. Here are some photos Andrew took during a three-day press trip to El-Fashir in Northern Darfur and Nyala in Southern Darfur with the African Union.





Photo: African Union soldier controlling crowd at Kalma camp for internally displaced people near Nyala, southern Darfur, Sudan (Andrew Heavens www.meskelsquare.com/)

Mar 2 2006 Oxfam Children in Kalma Camp say "ok" to staying healthy:

Kalma is one of the largest camps in Darfur -- mile after mile of tightly packed shelters and rapidly constructed sanitation systems currently home to around 89,000 displaced people. As in most camps, the vast majority of residents are women and children. Two years ago there were just 19,000 people here, but rapid growth since then has created an abundance of health risks, to which children are the most vulnerable.:

Mar 11 2006 Norway's NRC concerned about UN aid cut in Darfur:

Norewegian Refugee Council report today says UNHCR's announced cut in activities in Darfur is another clear testimony that the international community and Sudanese authorities lack the ability to create the necessary humanitarian space for humanitarian actors to assist the Sudanese civilian population. :

Mar 20 2006 South Darfur's Kalma and Seraif Camp - Rape; Attempted Rape; Risk of Death Penalty

Apr 3 2006 What's going on in Janana, South Darfur? 60 villages attacked by Janjaweed while Khartoum "safeguards" Norwegians from being in Sudan for next 2 weeks?:

Sudanese authorities have refused to extend the mandate of the Norwegian NGO Norwegian Refugee Council which heads the main refugee camp in Darfur, sheltering some 100,000 people, the organisation announced on Monday. NRC is one of Norway's largest NGOs, with 1,300 people working for refugees and displaced persons.

Apr 3 2006 M&G - Norwegian NGO forced to leave Darfur refugee camp: :

Jens Mjaugedal, head of the organisation's international division, said in a statement,"We have not received an explanation why our presence is no longer desired."

Also, Jan Egeland has been asked by the Sudanese government to delay his visit to Darfur because it coincided with a Muslim holiday says the BBC. Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Jamal Ibrahim said that in the light of the Danish cartoons row, it would not be sensitive or safe for a Norwegian such as Mr Egeland to visit.

AFP report says the Sudanese government denied barring Jan Egeland from Darfur, but instead asked his visit be delayed because of "popular sentiment". "Egeland was not barred from visiting Darfur but was only asked to postpone the visit due to the growing popular sentiment against the UN for its plans of deploying foreign forces in Darfur," information ministry official Bekri Mulah told AFP by telephone.

Jan Egeland told the BBC today the SLA helped provoke latest Janjaweed attacks in Janana. He said the Sudanese government, guerrilla forces and ethnic militia groups were all responsible for the current instability in Darfur. Egeland told the BBC he thought the Sudanese government did not want him to see the latest wave of "ethnic cleansing" against black Africans in South Darfur.

Apr 5 2006 Norway Post - Norway sends protest to Sudan:

Today, Norway has sent a note to Sudan, expressing the Norwegian Government's concern over the development of the situation in the country, Norway Post reported. The note points to the working conditions for the humanitarian organisations, the Sudanese authorities lack of ability to protect its own population and Jan Egeland being denied entry to Sudan. Norway has been heavily involved in the Sudan, both with emergency aid and in connection with the peace process to end the civil war between North and Southern Sudan.:

Apr 6 2006 Norwegian Refugee Council hopes to return to South Darfur: :

On Monday NRC was informed by the NRC's agreement with Sudan on camp coordination in Kalma camp would not be renewed. NRC was also informed that its presence in South Darfur was not wanted, and NRC was asked to leave the state. No reasons were given by the authorities as to why NRC had to leave the state of South Darfur. While this is being resolved, NRC continues its humanitarian aid programmes in North and South Sudan.:

Photo from Sudan Watch archive Feb 2006: African Union soldier at Kalma Camp, South Darfur. Sign says: "WE NEED INTERNATIONAL FORCE TO PROTECT US"

Apr 13 2006 Difficult journey for displaced Dinkas in Darfur returning home to Sudan's Northern Bahr El Ghazal province:

Concern is growing at the fate of thousands of displaced Dinka tribes people attempting to return to their homes in Sudan's Northern Bahr El Ghazal province from South Darfur, International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 11 Apr 2006.



Photo Feb 9 2006 The Dinka's epic trek across South Sudan continues - 250,000 cattle have arrived so far in 34 cattle camps around Bor. (Sudan Watch archive):

May 8 2006 photo: Displaced Sudanese people hold up banners at Kalma Camp, 8 May 2006, where thousands demonstrated demanding international protection. The head of the African Union's executive said it was vital for the peace accord to end the civil war in the Sudanese region of Darfur to be implemented as soon as possible. (AFP/File/Jonah Fisher)

May 10 2006 South Darfur: UN evacuates Kalma Camp, after attack

May 11 2006 South Darfur's Kalma Camp residents attack AU police station and lynch to death AU interpreter

May 31 2006 Norwegian Refugee Council returns to Darfur after eviction

July 4 2006 Increased radicalisation of youth inside Kalma camp, South Darfur - Nighttime AU soldiers needed inside camp :

An analyst said the security situation in nearby Kalma camp had worsened since the signing of the Darfur peace deal on 5 May, adding that the worst attacks were taking place at night.:

July 29 2006 Aid group attacked in Deleig camp, W Darfur - 17 women raped by militia outside Kalma camp

Aug 23 2006 Kalma Camp, S Darfur: Resuming AU firewood patrols is vital: :

More than 200 women have been sexually assaulted in the last five weeks alone around Darfur's largest displaced camp, Kalma, IRC reported today via Reuters. The situation is so dire that about 300 women convened a meeting in Kalma on Aug 7 to plead for more help from the outside world -- particularly from African Union troops mandated to protect civilians.:

Nov 21 2006 S Darfur State expels Norwegian Refugee Council - Darfur has the world's largest aid operation with 14,000 aid workers
- - -

DEC 16 EVENT - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NORWAY

UPDATE 9 Dec 2006: Thanks to Andreas of The Oslo Blog and Amnesty International Norway for picking up so quickly on above: see Oslo Blog and news of the event on Dec 16 calling on Norway and other countries to work harder to find a solution to protect civilians in Darfur.

Please forgive slow or non response to emails, comments and links. Believe it or not, many of these posts take time to put together even without commentary, due to amount of background reading beforehand. Usually, I scour through a few hundred news reports on Sudan most days and have done so since April 2004. Unfortunately, this blogspot has no 'categories' and a poor search facility, so I have to rely on my own memory to marry related reports. Luckily from the outset of this blog, I've been pretty consistent with key words in title of each blog entry which enables me to search on a particular topic. Now must rest while keeping eye on latest news. More later. Peace. Thanks for the links and notes.