Darfur crisis is 'as bad as ever'

by BBC (reposted)

Fri, Apr 21, 2006 6:23AM

The humanitarian situation in Sudan's Darfur region is as bad now as when the conflict came to the world's attention in 2004, the top UN aid official says.

Jan Egeland told the BBC that aid workers in Darfur were "in retreat" from attacks by armed groups, a funding shortfall and government obstacles.

He said that 500,000 people of the 3m who needed help were "out of reach".

The US says a genocide is being committed against Darfur's black African population.

Sudan's governments has consistently said the scale of the problems are being exaggerated for political reasons.

It denies backing the Arab Janjaweed militias accused of mass rape, killing and looting.

Tough mandate

Asked whether international focus on bringing to justice those accused of atrocities was distracting from the aid effort, Mr Egeland said that more pressure might be needed to solve the problems in Darfur.

He had earlier briefed the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Darfur.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4926234.stm

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