EP - Parliament to send mission to Darfur

A delegation of six Members of the European Parliament will travel to Darfur, Khartoum and Chad from 2 to 7 September to meet the Sudanese authorities, aid workers, refugees and African Union observers. Led by Luisa MORGANTINI (GUE/NGL, IT), the delegation will also include Jana HYBASKOVA (EPP-ED, CZ), Glenys KINNOCK (PES, UK), Ana GOMES (PES, PT), Fiona HALL (ALDE, UK) and Emma BONINO (ALDE, IT). A question with debate on Sudan will probably be added to the agenda for Parliament's next plenary session (13-16 September) and is expected to be followed by a vote on a resolution.

Although humanitarian intervention is being stepped up, the emergency in Darfur is likely to continue for more than a year. Efforts therefore need to be maintained. In discussions on Tuesday with Costanza ADINOLFI, Director of ECHO (the EU Humanitarian Office) and Daniel AUGSTBURGER, of OCHA (the UN body that coordinates humanitarian aid), members of Parliament's Development Committee voiced concern at the humanitarian crisis affecting over two million people in Darfur.

Speakers at the meeting said that simpler administrative procedures were now making it easier to reach the population. However, access was still a problem as it is the rainy season. Moreover, many of the victims are still afraid to show themselves: Costanza Adinolfi said that only half the people who need help could be reached by aid workers because the civilian population was still being attacked and preferred to stay hidden. The food supply situation had improved noticeably but around 80% of sanitary and water needs were not covered. Since June the donor base had broadened but much more still had to be done. Ms Adinolfi said she was counting on a mobilisation of public opinion in the Member States, which needed to be alerted to the scale of the crisis.

Apart from the humanitarian emergency, MEPs stressed the need to find a political solution for Sudan. The militia had not yet been fully disarmed and the African Union had insufficient resources to enforce the cease-fire. In addition the postponement of the signature of the peace agreements between the north and the south of Sudan was an obstacle to any improvement in the tragic humanitarian situation in the south of the country.

Dutch Development Minister Agnes VAN ARDENNE, who presented the Dutch Presidency's work programme to the committee on Tuesday, did not rule out sanctions against Sudan's oil interests if the Khartoum government did not abide by the UN resolution calling upon it to disarm the Janjaweed militia.

31.08.2004 Committee on Development and Cooperation In the chair: Luisa MORGANTINI (GUE/NGL, IT)

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