United Nations – Chief U.N. aid coordinator Jan Egeland told the Security Council on Friday that conditions in Darfur had deteriorated so drastically that the international assistance effort there faced collapse in weeks.
“The next few weeks will make or break,” Egeland said, reporting on a trip he made last week to Sudan and Chad. “We can turn the corner towards reconciliation and reconstruction, or see an even worse collapse of our efforts to provide protection and relief to millions of people.”
Among the immediate objectives he said had to be met were the following:
Getting dissident groups to support a peace agreement that has been signed only by the government and the largest of three major rebel groups.
Providing immediate and substantial strengthening to the undermanned and underfinanced African Union mission now patrolling Darfur.
Taking concrete steps to integrate that force into a larger U.N. force.
Meeting international funding pledges for Darfur and re-establishing aid groups’ access that he said represented a lifeline for close to 4 million people.
On Tuesday, the Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for strict observance by all groups of the shaky peace accord, which was adopted in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, on May 5.
The council also ordered a hastening of plans for the new U.N. force, which is expected to replace the existing 7,000-member African Union force with up to 20,000 troops by October.
“The attacks against relief workers have been relentless and are threatening our operations in many areas,” Egeland said. “Our staff, compounds, trucks and vehicles are being targeted literally on a daily basis.”
He confirmed reports that the conflict had spilled across the border into Chad.