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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
The United States strongly supports the United Nations Secretary General in expressing its deep concern over reports of ongoing Sudanese government efforts to forcibly relocate civilians from internally displaced persons camps in Al Geer village, South Darfur, and the denial of humanitarian access to these camps. Forcible relocation is in direct contravention of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and is a violation of Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1564. It is also inconsistent with the understanding reached between the Government of Sudan, the United Nations, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the necessity of any returns being voluntary. We call on the Government of Sudan to cease the forcible relocation of civilians, disengage forces surrounding other camps and allow humanitarian workers immediate access. The United States stands with the international community in holding the government of the Sudan responsible for the violations and requests immediate return of all the displaced persons moved to Al Geer. We also request active involvement of the UN, International Organizations, and the African Union in monitoring the safety of displaced persons and withdrawal of Government forces. The United States remains deeply concerned about the safety and security of Sudanese civilians in Darfur. The recent kidnapping of 18 hostages by the Darfur rebels is disturbing, as is the mobilization of thousands of Arab militia in areas of West and South Darfur. Both indicate that the parties to the conflict in Darfur are not serious about establishing peace. We urge all parties to immediately refrain from acts of violence as agreed to under the April 8 N'djamena Ceasefire Agreement and to support the African Union Mission in Sudan to establish peace and security in Darfur. We also urge the parties to rapidly sign humanitarian and security agreements at the African Union mediated talks in Abuja, Nigeria. End text |