As the conflict in Darfur enters its sixth year, the U.N. peacekeeping chief on Friday painted a grim picture of widespread violence, no sign of a political settlement, and millions of civilians surviving in camps on international aid.
Alain Le Roy told the U.N. Security Council that the joint African Union-United Nations force that took over peacekeeping in Darfur almost a year ago "has been much too slow in providing real improvements for the ordinary citizens on the ground and inadequate in resolving the Darfur crisis."
He said the U.N. must accelerate deployment of the 26,000-strong force, but he stressed that the responsibility for progress lies with the government of Sudan and rebel groups, which must stop fighting and start talking under U.N. mediator Djibrill Bassole.
"Only a sustainable political settlement between the parties will end this conflict," Le Roy said.
Rebels took up arms in Sudan's western Darfur region in early 2003, citing neglect and marginalization by the central government. Attempts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table or to broker cease-fires have failed, and so far up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes.
Over the past six months, Le Roy said, an additional 100,000 people have been displaced by fighting and insecurity, and aid workers continue to struggle to get access to those in need under very difficult conditions.
"It is of grave concern that year after year, the security situation remains volatile and unpredictable," he said.
In the past two months, Le Roy said, "attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, as well as intertribal violence and clashes between the government and the armed movements have intensified."
The undersecretary-general for peacekeeping was presenting a report by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon which cited "enormous challenges" in deploying the AU-U.N. force.
Only 60 percent of the 26,000-strong force will be deployed by the end of the year, with 80 percent expected by March, he said.
Despite appeals that started more than a year ago, Ban said the AU-U.N. force still lacks important equipment, including 24 helicopters, a multi-role logistics unit, a medium transport unit, a heavy transport unit and an aerial reconnaissance unit.
"I reiterate my appeal to those that are in a position to provide mission-critical capabilities to do so without further delay," Ban said.
