150 African and Arab civil society organisations implore US and China to help solve conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan

China and the United States are in a unique position to encourage Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their internal and cross-border conflicts through peaceful negotiation, said a coalition of leading Arab and African civil society organisations in letters sent to the US Secretary of State and Chinese Foreign Minister ahead of the US-China strategic dialogue in Beijing, May 3-4.

The signatory organisations, which include the Institute for Security Studies and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, warn that recent escalation of cross-border violence between Sudan and South Sudan poses a very grave threat to international peace and security. Their plea comes as the UN Security Council has agreed to vote in favor of a new resolution regarding the Sudans conflict.

The letters call on the US and China to show leadership and use their influence with the two parties, and their status as permanent members of the UN Security Council, to encourage Sudan and South Sudan to return to the negotiating table and resolve outstanding post-secession issues.

The organisations warn that the impending rainy season means that time is running out to help hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting, many of whom are already facing serious food shortages. They stress the need for Sudan to uphold its commitment to addressing the underlying causes of conflicts in South Kordorfan and Blue Nile states, which can have ‘no military solution’.

The letter, which was sent on Tuesday to Mr Yang Jiechi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Hillary Clinton, US secretary of State, reads: “Your engagement and collaboration is crucial for the well being of the people of the two Sudans and for the region as a whole. […] Sudan and South Sudan are at a turning-point in their history and the next few weeks and months will be decisive. Everyone, not least the Sudanese people, stands to lose if the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan resort to war at the expense of peace.”

The specific issues the organisations say need to be resolved are:

• Implementation of the requirements of the African Union and UN Security Council
• Cessation of attacks on civilians, a cessation of hostilities and unimpeded humanitarian access across Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, Sudan
• Expeditious finalisation of transitional financial arrangements, including oil transit fees
• Prompt resolution of the future status of Abyei and demarcation of the border
• End international arms transfers to Sudan and South Sudan
• Respect for human rights and the rule of law

/ Ends

For more information, to arrange interviews, or to request a copy of the letter, please contact: Amy Barry at Crisis Action on +44 7980 664397 or amy.barry@crisisaction.org

List of signatory organisations: Al Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development, Africa Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, Africa Peace Forum, Arab Coalition for Darfur (ACD) (representing 135 Arab civil society organisations), Arab Program for Human Rights Activists, Blue Nile Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization, Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, Community Empowerment Progress Organization, Darfur Bar Association, Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre, Funj Youth Development Association, Institute for Security Studies, International Refugee Rights Initiative, Kamma Organization for Development Initiatives, Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization, Sudan Democracy First Group
About Crisis Action: Crisis Action works solely behind the scenes to enable our partners to respond jointly to crises. Crisis Action should not be cited in media reports.

Post: Manager

Location: Cairo with regional travel.

Salary: $1150 per month

CVs to be sent as soon as possible to: May 15, 2012

Email: wadah@acdarfur.net – info@acdarfur.net 

The Arab Coalition for Darfur was created in 2008 and now consists of over 120 members from 19 Arab countries who have come together to provide a voice from the Arab world to address and raise awareness on the humanitarian suffering in Darfur. The Coordination Unit is based in Cairo and works primarily through a secretariat of six people in various countries, and focal points spread across the region. The Coalition seeks a special multi skilled Manager for the exciting and innovative initiative.

Working with an assistant, key responsibilities will be as follows:

• Overall responsibility for the drafting and the implementation of the annual plan in consultation with members, and updating the three year strategy approved by the secretariat and ACD’s General Assembly.
• Coordinate the review, planning and strategy meetings of the secretariat, organizing documentation, meetings’ agendas and the follow up.
• Monitor and support work of focal points, with particular focus on those most active and in the most strategic locations.
• Draw up an action plan from the annual plan, and update it on at least a quarterly basis.
• Mobilize and coordinate agreed joint actions at the level of capitals as well as regional events via the secretariat, involving ACD’s wider membership.
• Take all daily decisions to implement targeted plans, in the framework of bi-weekly meetings. The ACD Secretary General is only required for sign off on public statements and overall plans.
• Provide members with the required information, including regular situation updates on Darfur and the wider Sudan, raising awareness and ceasing opportunities for the coalition.
• Demonstrate in depth policy analysis and working with ACD secretariat members, generate and maintain updated policy positions for the ACD, share information on Darfur/Sudan policy debates, and provide lobby and media messages and public statements/briefs for use by secretariat and members.
• Overall lead on strengthening the membership of the ACD with an emphasis on qualitative, effective and geographically spread members rather than on numbers.
• Oversee membership applications against agreed criteria in consultation with the ACD Secretariat, monitor the growth in memberships. Invite and manage feedback from members, manage regular information sharing and reporting to members, and build accountability within the coalition.
• Performing budget management, including significant number of sizeable grants to ensure financial reports are generated each month and quality financial and narrative reports reach donors on time.
• Manage fundraising for the ACD, which includes writing and submitting proposals, with a high level of involvement with and knowledge of potential donors.
• Communicate with the media, and act as a spokesperson on behalf of the coalition as needed. Prioritize and strengthen relations with key strategic media outlets and individuals across the region.
• High-level representation and lobbying with key officials in the Arab region, on behalf of the coalition and its members.
• Regular regional travel to expand the membership and strengthen already existing ties with key political officials in the Arab world.

Desired skills and experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in a relevant field preferably with civil society organizations and with existing working relations with key players.
• Excellent team work and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to work with very little supervision, taking the lead and initiative.
• Ability to mobilize from a distance individuals in other organizations in many different countries.
• Proven management skills in a previous role.
• Smart and strategic media work including digital media, and working relations with key media outlets.
• Competent with budget and financial management.
• Sound political analysis skills and an understanding of sensitivities. Conversant with Sudan’s affairs in particular the Darfur crisis.
• Experience with public speaking and bilateral lobbying meetings.
• Solid knowledge of the human rights situation in the region, with a specific focus on Darfur and the wider Sudan.
• Very good or fluent in spoken and written English and Arabic.
• Willingness and ability to travel in the region.

 This vacancy is a senior position with management requirements of two posts: assistant and finance/administrative posts.

 The holder of this post will be in charge of reporting to the Secretary General of the Arab Coalition for Darfur.

Arab NGOs call on the Arab Summit to grasp the opportunity to stop the escalating conflict and suffering in Sudan and South Sudan, especially South Kordofan and Blue Nile – in particular a cessation of hostilities and sustained unconditonal humanitarian access

On the eve of the Arab Summit to be held in Baghdad on March 29, the Arab Coalition for Darfur (ACD) is extremely worried about the escalating conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile which have all the hallmarks of another Darfur.

According to international reports, since the start of the conflict in South Kordofan last June 2011 and Blue Nile in September 2011, the estimated number of displaced people is over 350,000, in addition 78,000 refugees who have crossed the border to the State of South Sudan. Furthermore, 35,000 people from the Blue Nile state crossed the borders into the neighboring Ethiopia. This indicates an explosion of new hotbeds of conflict and escalating humanitarian needs on top of the ongoing crisis in the Darfur region, which led to the displacement of about 3 million civilians during the war and which lasted for a almost a decade without resolution.

As Haggag Nayel Secretary General of the ACD says ‘South Kordofan shows many of the signs of Darfur when the Arab world looked away – despite the huge numbers of people affected, and where civilians are subjected to aerial bombardment, displacement and forced refugee status. Will Arab leaders be too late again – it has already been eight months of watching?’

We call on Arab leaders to move rapidly and to press on all parties, including the governments of states of Sudan and South Sudan to stop widening the circle of violence, and urge them to use their distinct role in resolving conflicts in the region including issues of Sudan.

As Najib Alnauimi, Former Minister of Justice of Qatar, human rights defender and member of the ACD says: ‘The LAS cannot standby with the usual refrain of not interfering in internal affairs – Libya, Syria and elsewhere shows the need for action to protect civilians and ensure access to humanitarian assistance according to international law’.

We therefore demand the Arab leaders at their Summit to activate their role resolving the crisis which once again threatens the region by the following:

• Recognize that the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile has all the hallmarks of another Darfur.

• Call on the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N (South Popular Liberation Movement – North) to return to talks and to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities, in all areas of conflict especially South Kordofan and Blue Nile, including the cessation of indiscriminate aerial bombing by Sudan’s Air Force on unarmed civilians including women and children.

• Ensure meaningful unimpeded sustained humanitarian access without conditions from any party to support the majority of the population needing assistance but so far denied access to assistance by independent humanitarian actors.

• Send a fact-finding mission in the conflict hotbeds via the League of Arab States perhaps in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Conference to further inform the LAS of the context and required action

.

• Press on the states of Sudan and South Sudan not to get back to war under any circumstances and for the two parties to reach a political agreement to resolve the post-independence issues of the State of South Sudan, which include oil and the demarcation of borders, citizenship and nationality and security issues. This includes full development and implementation of the accords reached in Addis on citizenship and demarcation in March 2012.

For interviews please contact:

Haggag Nayel,

Secretary General of the Arab Coalition Darfur, Egypt

+20 1000083198

+20 1229213929

Najeeb Alnauimi,

Former Minister of Justice of Qatar,

human rights defender and member of the ACD, Qatar

+97455811120

Albaqir Afif,

ACD Deputy Secretary General, Sudan

+249122884920

+249901235179

Moniem El Jak

Member of ACD, Sudan

+256777723331

+211955507000

 Press Release

The Bread and Roses marches are considered the start of the feminist movement in the United States especially after the inclusion of women of the middle class to the wave of demands for equality and equity to the marches. Beside, they adopted slogans calling for political rights, especially the right to vote. This Movement was called “Suffragists” and is dated back to periods of the struggle against slavery demanding the rights of the black Americans and the emancipation from slavery.

The celebration of the 8^th of March began as an American Women Day to commemorate the day of New York demonstrations in 1909.

By this celebration, American women contributed to press on the European countries to adopt the eighth of March as the Women Day in Copenhagen Conference in Denmark, which hosted delegates of seventeen countries. The Conference adopted the proposal of the U.S. delegation to determine a day annually for the celebration for women at global level after the success of the experience in the United States.

However, the eighth of March hasn’t been adopted as an international day for women for several years after that because the United Nations did not agree on the adoption of that occasion, except in 1977 when the International Organization issued a resolution calling the entire world to propose the adoption of any day of the year for the celebration for women, and then the majority of States chose the eighth of March.

 And thus the Day becomes a symbol for the struggle of women to go out in demonstrations across the world demanding their rights and reminding the world of the violations of which millions of women across the world are still suffering.

In this anniversary, the Arab Coalition for Darfur praises the struggle of women all over the world and particularly of the Sudanese women, who are still struggling to stop the abuses conducted against her like torture and lashing, murder and rape. Also, the ACD condemns the inhuman practices carried out by the Sudanese authorities and the armed movements which are considered violations of all international charters and conventions of women’s rights (the Geneva Conventions of 1949 – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1977 – UN Security Council Resolution no. 1325 on women, peace and security)

By the eighth of March this year, we are witnessing humiliation, degradation and pain because of what is happening to women of Sudan and we, in the Arab Coalition for Darfur, asks the Sudanese authorities and the armed movements to stop these inhuman practices and to respect international treaties and agreements issued on the protection of women.

March_8_Women’s_day

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On Friday the 29th of April the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva issued a resolution unequivocally condemning the use of lethal force against protestors and requesting the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to immediately dispatch a mission to Syria to investigate all violations of human rights law committed with view to avoid impunity and ensure full accountability of the Syrian regime. However, over one week later, reports of the use of force and military artillery against civilians, collective punishment and large scale arbitrary arrest and detention in Syria continue.

We commend the League’s position to prevent mass atrocities in Libya; we now call on the League of Arab States to show consistent Arab Leadership in dealing with the situation in Syria. United Nation member states from around the world have now made clear that the situation in Syria is unacceptable; we urge the League of Arab States not to become isolated in its silence.

Furthermore, in solidarity with the Syrian’s people’s plight to gain their basic Human Rights and freedom, we call upon the Ministerial committee, meeting on the 15th of May 2011 to send a strong signal to the Syrian Leadership by:

- Condemning the excessive use of force against peaceful protestors in Syria.
- Acting in line with articles (8, 14, 18 and 36) of the Arab Charter for Human Rights which state that Arab Governments must ensure that their responsibility for the protection of civilians in Syria is upheld, against all other political interests.
- Calling on the Syrian authorities to abide by International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, including respect for freedom of association and expression and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
- Calling on the Syrian authorities to lift the communication blackout immediately and end the ban on journalists entering Syria.
- Finally, the league must support the work and findings of the International Investigative mission authorised by the UN Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/S-16/1 on Syria.

Arab states did not stand still when confronted with the legitimate aspirations and suffering of the people in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Arab governments must now show that this region is capable of protecting its own civilian populations during times of such acute need without hypocrisy and double standards. The eyes of the world are on us and history will judge the humanity of this region according to our reaction to events in Syria and elsewhere. We urge you to leave a record that we and our children are proud of.

As always, we believe that the League of Arab States has a vital and essential role to play and we urge the League of Arab States to demonstrate continued constructive leadership at this crucial time.

Sincerely,

• Cairo Institute For Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) – Egypt
• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) – Egypt
• Arab Programme for Human Rights Activists (APHRA)– Egypt
• Ani Centre for Human Rights and Developments – Egypt
• Egyptian Foundation for Refugees Rights – Egypt
• Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) – Egypt
• Andalus Institute for Tolerance and anti-Violence Studies – Egypt
• Arab Foundation for Civil Society and Human Rights Support
• Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement
• Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression, Egypt
• Egyptian foundation for Advancement of the Childhood Conditions – Egypt
• Hesham Mubarak Law Center – Egypt
• Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies (DCHRS)– Syria
• National Organization for Human Rights – Syria
• Arab Committee for freedom of expression – Syria
• Haitham Maleh Foundation For the Defense of Syrian Human Rights Defenders – Syria
• Human Rights First Society (HRFS) – Saudi Arabia
• Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights – Bahrain
• Al Bahrain Centre for Human Rights – Bahrain
• Social Democratic Forum (SDF) – Yemen
• Yemeni Organization for Defending Rights and Democratic Freedoms – Yemen
• Human Rights & Democracy Media Center (SHAMS) – Palestine
• Palestinian Organization for Human Rights – Palestine
• Sudan Development Association – Sudan
• Al Khatim Centre for Enlightenment & Human Development (KACE) – Sudan
• Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO)
• The Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights – Algeria
• Permanent Peace Movement (includes 20 member organisations) – Lebanon
• Palestinian Human Rights Organization, Lebanon
• Iraqi Human Right Association in Denmark
• The Mauritanian Association for Human Rights – Mauritania
• Kuwait Society for Human Rights for Human Rights – Kuwait
• Arab Coalition for Darfur (includes 56 member organisations) – Regional
• Arab Media Crisis Network (includes 20 members) – Regional

The Arab Coalition for Darfur (ACD) sent a fact finding mission to the Egyptian-Libyan border to Salloum city- to investigate the situation of the Sudanese (especially from Darfur) who fled the violence in Libya. ACD believes in the necessity to highlight this issue and enlighten the media and related organizations of the conditions of the displaced and stranded Sudanese at the Libyan- Egyptian border in Salloum’s borderland port, and urge the UNHCR and the international community to provide protection and other necessary assistance given the difficulty of returning to Darfur, which is still suffering from violence in some regions where the lives of the displaced could be in danger.

The Sudanese authorities estimated its nationals in Libya about 400 – 500 thousands citizens [Mohamed Adam - Sudanese Embassy in Cairo]. The precise numbers of Darfuris among them is still unknown. However, some agencies estimate their numbers at tens of thousands especially as many of them left Sudan in the eighties heading to Libya for work during the deterioration of the economic situation in Darfur. Besides, Libya has witnessed a mass influx at the end of 2003 after the security unrest in the region.

In general Darfuris have been located in the south and east of Libya, most of them working in freelance jobs and residing especially in Benghazi, Marj, Byada, Drna and Tubruk. There are a lot of Darfuris in Kufra as well (South Libya) where a number of them have been working in trading and in driving trucks.

Since 2 March 2011 a Sudanese governmental committee commenced its work in Salloum to carry out and follow up the return of displaced Sudanese back to Sudan. But Some Darfuris claimed that on 7^th March, some officials from the Sudanese embassy collected their identity papers for security checks (in between borders) but none of them were allowed to cross over the border into Egypt, only later when they allowed them to cross the border in organized groups. However, many of them who arrived in Salloum refused to return to Sudan at a later stage or to deal with the committee which was set by the Sudanese government.

According to our source, there are 362 Darfuris along the Egyptian-Libyan border, among them 50 women and children. The UNHCR has initially registered them for later interviews to decide their eligibility for international protection. These Darfuris are asylum seekers hoping for a swift solution for their suffering and prefer to be resettled in a third country. They refuse to return back to Darfur due to the security unrest or to any other areas in Sudan fearing on their lives or to be persecuted by the Sudanese authorities.

With the intensifying of fighting in Libya and the numbers of displaced people crossing the Egyptian-Libyan border in Saloum, the Sudanese authorities established an air bridge to evacuate the stranded Sudanese in Saloum via Alexandria and then by air to Khartoum.

Several States has been involved in facilitating the return of Sudanese, including: Qatar, Egypt, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Sweden and Turkey

Many Darfuris left Libya like other Sudanese since the outbreak of events in 17Feb 2011, and until April 29th 2011, the Sudanese government evacuated 46486 citizens, of whom 15492 returned back to Sudan across Egypt, while the rest were evacuated via different ports). This was according to the announcement made by Mr. Ahmed Krmeno Minister of State and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee overseeing the Sudanese who wish to return from Libya.

It is not just about crossing the Egyptian-Libyan border in Salloum, but in Agueno region on the Libyan border to Chad where there are  around 200 Darfuris, including women and children stranded since last March, with deteriorating health and living in harsh conditions (Radio Dabanga . They are demanding the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to provide protection for them, or evacuate  them to refugee camps in Chad and not to be returned back to Sudan for fears of raids or the possibility of being summoned  for investigation ,imprisonment, or and torture by the security services as their predecessors who had returned to Sudan.

In the same period, witnesses  on the Chadian-Libyan border said that the Sudanese residents in areas of southern Libya have despaired of the government’s attempts to evacuate them from Libya, which led more than three thousands to seek refuge in Chad since the start of armed clashes in Libya.

Some of them who fled declared that Oza area on the Chadian-Libyan border there are a large number of Sudanese and other nationalities stranded and trying to cross the border to Chad. (Radio Dabanga)

In Salloum (Egyptian –Libyan border), the women and children are staying in the arrival and Passport hall and staff offices, and in spite of continued work and transit passengers throughout the day, the border and crossing administration asked them to evacuate the place because saying they impede the work of the border staff and movement of transit -, however, they did not force this requirement. On the other hand, men live in handmade tents which they built themselves by plastic curtains and fixed it on the ground by stones.

“The continued presence of displaced people in these conditions may carry more diseases with time” referring to the suffering of many children and young people from the shock because of what they had been subjected and the state of instability in which they live generally on the border . said Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF Representative in Egypt.

Khartoum’s Irresponsible Statements:

Darfuris have found themselves in a difficult situation in Libya, after a statement announced by the Foreign Minister of Sudan, “Ali Karti,” on February 18, 2011 at Al-Jazeera news channel, that Darfur political movements provide ground support for the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. What made things even harder for Darfuris and Sudanese living in Libya was the statement of Mr. Kamal Hassan Ali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on February 25‘We do not deny the presence of Sudanese among the mercenaries because of the emergence of Sudanese passports with them through the media, which do not exclude the participation of some Darfur movements in particular, especially as the Libyan regime was providing assistance to them’,

Such comments were offensive to the citizens of Darfur, or rather carry a charge that implicates them., Even Sudan’s ambassador in Cairo, Abdel-Rahman, sir Alkhatim, said recently on 27 April that his country is ready for the evacuation of all Sudanese returnees from Libya (including according to the Sudanese government members of armed movements and to connect them to their areas in Sudan at the state expense and the state is willing to provide all the guarantees not to pursue them within the country. He added that among those who have already evacuated, through Egypt, “a large number of the armed movements even arrived to their areas in Sudan without investigating them.

Reports from several sources of Darfuris living in Cairo and others in Salloum that 22 persons disappeared since they evacuated form Salloum via the Aswan – Halfa road.

Organizations working on the displaced in Salloum (including Darfuris)

On his visit to Egypt at the end of last March Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, urged the Egyptian authorities to keep the border crossing in Salloum open, otherwise it will be disastrous to the displaced people coming from Libya. This was agreed by the Egyptian government, but still denying of establishing a camp even just to set up tents temporarily, especially for those who stay inside the terminal without even entering Egypt.

The humanitarian aid is undertaken by: Egyptian Ministry of Health, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which provided tents, the World Food Program (which provides three meals a day) , the Organization of Catholic Relief Services (Caritas) and others. These services are provided to all displaced people, both travelers or immigrants or asylum seekers.

UNICEF is providing psychological and social assistance for displaced people, especially families and people with special cases.

The Sudanese government did not announce a clear program to facilitate the return of Darfuris especially the ones whose villages were severely damaged in the recent years due to violence.

On the contrary, despite the fears of those displaced from the deteriorating security situation in the cities and villages of Darfur, and even within the IDP camps, the Khartoum government believes the security situation is calm in the Darfur states.

However, on April 20, government sources said that nine vehicles have reached Almalha in Northan Darfur  loaded with numbers of returnees from Libya on their way to El Fasher.

Stories from Salloum:

‘I only know Libya but will probably never return back‘:

I was born in 1985, the year that her father passed away, leaving her with six brothers all living with their mother in Benghazi. The attacks at the beginning when the events erupted began with robbery of some houses which did not differentiate between Libyans and foreigners. However, later the neighbour’s behaviour changed towards them after the Sudanese government statements about the support of the Darfur movements to Gadhafi militia, and also after the reports about being part of the African mercenaries used in the attack on Libyan citizens. All this left me not feeling safe in Libya and I was afraid to go out to the street, especially after some of the Libyans surrounded the consulate of Sudan where/how did she know? in a protest against the Sudanese government’s support for the LAS decision for international intervention in Libya to stop attacks against civilians.

“We escaped death”

I am a boy of 16 –we made the decision to flee, fearing for their lives with the intensification of the fighting, especially when Libya announced a march from Tripoli to the east. The situation on the border in Salloum is difficult, especially with the presence of young children, but “we challenged ourselves,” we made the decision to departed least to stay alive, “

Mrs “u” in her mid-thirties. she and her husband were living in Alhout market in Benghazi –They spoke about the horror they faced during their escape from Libya- “Houses were robbed and people were killed” she said, we both  lost our documents during our escape to Egypt.

Mr”K” born in 1965 escaped the Darfur violence back in 2004, and lost 5 of his family members at the time . He was displaced to a refugee camp in Chad? and was forced to go back to Nyala to complete his final year in medicine school. He was persecuted by the Sudanese authorities and detained in 2004, because he was one of the persons who witnessed what happened to his relatives in regular attacks, and was accused of conveying these violations to related international organizations which started to come to the region. He was released in 2005 and travelled to Libya and worked in different jobs to provide for his family. He considers the return of Sudanese back to western Libya is not an option because of the possibility that the unrest may erupt again. He said that one of the Imams in mosques said “ Kill the black Africans slaves”, in spite of these comments not being acceptable in prayers. He witnessed the killing of two Chadian workers in Bneghazi, then took a decision to flee to Egypt.

He like others finds the return to Libya is impossible as well as to Darfur.

Concerns over security persecution

There is a permanent committee from the Sudanese embassy on the border crossing of Salluom, and includes staff from the Consulate, Passport and Community Affairs for the conduct of the entry of Sudanese living in Libya to Egypt via the port Salloum.
The returnees fear the presence of officials of the Sudanese embassy in Cairo at the border namely, “Colonel Muathir”, who they say was working in the Sudanese army and lead the war operations in Darfur against the unarmed civilians, specifically Al Jeinena area in the west. The returnees conveyed their fears to representatives of international organizations including the Red Cross.
But the Sudanese embassy in Cairo replied to these fears by announcing  that the presence of such personnel is linked to their mission in the extraction of passports or travel documents for those who have lost papers in Libya. The claim their presence at the crossing is not for surveillance or follow-up of Darfuris, returnees, especially as the Egyptian authorities allowed the committee to work in the border so as  to accelerate the rate of return of displaced people and alleviate their suffering.

Recommendations from the Arab Coalition for Darfur:

• The displaced people and asylum seekers are looking to the United Nations and its agencies for harboring and providing security and protection.

• UNHCR should accelerate the rate of asylum-seekers daily interviews especially to those in the most critical humanitarian situations

• The Egyptian government should speed up the the establishment of temporary protection for asylum for the people of Darfur.

• International organizations should provide a program of psycho-social care for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress from the horror they have witnessed and violence in Libya, especially children .

• United Nations organizations and IOM to monitor the situation of displaced people across the Libyan – Chadian-Sudanese border and evacuate those who wish to a refugee camps in Chad.

• Khartoum government to cooperate with the evacuation programme if not fund it itself, and establish a suitable voluntary return program tailored to the conditions of migrants returning from Libya, including the adjustment of students positions, and working programs for youth .

]]> http://acdarfur.net/en/?feed=rss2&p=101 0 http://acdarfur.net/en/?p=100 http://acdarfur.net/en/?p=100#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:07:20 +0000 admin http://acdarfur.net/en/?p=100 We commend the decision of the UNSC and the Arab League to authorise measures to protect civilians in Libya and ensure further atrocities are averted. The initiative by the UK government to hold a conference in London on 29th March 2011 on Libya to ‘take stock of the implementation of the two security council resolutions 1970 and 1973, consider the humanitarian needs, and to identify ways to support the aspirations of the Libyan people’ is welcomed. Arab representation is especially important.

The undersigned group of Arab civil society organisations call on the conference to deliver on the following:

• Publically reaffirm with one voice adherence to the stated and time-bound objectives of Odyssey Dawn – that is the protection of civilians, and therefore also civilian property, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Every effort must be made to avoid the bombing of military installations near to highly populated areas where civilians and civilian property is at risk and civilians may become trapped, and not to use means of warfare and weapons that cause excessive civilian casualties. Furthermore, anything beyond this objective could lead to loss of support from Arab institutions and the Arab public.

• We confirm and reiterate the stated position of the UNSCR (1970 and 1973) stipulating that any intervention must not include ground forces.

• Mobilise diplomatic pressure to press for humanitarian access in Western Libya which is so far denied, including for a long overdue UN led humanitarian needs assessment which has not been allowed. Adopt and agree a scenario and contingency plan to be developed urgently by the UN OCHA outlining in basic terms who is going to do what, and for how many beneficiaries and how fast.

• Review enforcement of sanctions agreed in both resolutions including asset freezes and the arms embargo and any further actions required to improve monitoring and enforcement of the sanctions agreed.

• Use the meeting as a springboard to expedite a political solution to the crisis that minimises harm to civilians, and seeks to ensure their full political and economic rights and freedoms. Civil war must not be allowed to become entrenched and protracted.

‘The humanitarian crisis is expected to unfold to a critical level if civilians are not protected, unimpeded humanitarian access is not guaranteed, and if a political solution is not found urgently’ said Haggag Nayel, Executive Director of the Arab Programme for Human Rights Activists on behalf of the group.

So far over 330,000 people have fled the country, around 9000 are stranded at the borders especially migrants, thousands are thought to have been killed, and increasing numbers are being internally displaced. There are many areas under siege in the west where civilians are trapped and where there are credible reports of electricity and water supplies being cut off and house to house searches being conducted.

Signatories:
1. Arab Libyan Association for Human Rights [Libya]
2. Arab Program for Human Rights Activists [Egypt]
3. Permanent Peace Movement [Lebanon]
4. Bahrain Centre for Human Rights [Bahrain]
5. Algerian League for Human Rights [Algeria]
6. The Northern League for Democracy and Human Rights [Mauritania]
7. Arab Coalition for Darfur [Egypt secretariat]

The Sudan365 campaign (www.sudan365.org) has been organised by a coalition of groups including Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition, Italians for Darfur, the Norway Sudan Forum, Refugees International, Darfur Consortium and Arab Coalition for Darfur.
The campaign is targeting the ‘Guarantors’ of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement; those governments and institutions such as the US, UK, Kenya, Egypt, African Union , EU and LAS (League of Arab States), who promised that they would ensure the peace agreement was upheld. Activists are staging events in all eleven Guarantor states to call on those leaders to honour their pledge to Sudan and to prevent diplomatic meltdown.
“This drum beat for peace has passed from Cairo to Accra, Barcelona, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles. It is a global cry for our leaders to increase their efforts to prevent widespread conflict returning to Sudan,” said Will Champion, the drummer for Coldplay.
“Sudan has experienced too much pain and suffering in the last three decades. Now is the time to make sure that the future is one of peace and prosperity for all those in Darfur and the rest of Sudan. Music is an incredible force for positive action and this global beat for peace calls on world leaders to act now to stop a disaster later.” Mohammed Munir, Middle East musician & drummer

Campaigners say that the situation in Sudan has seriously deteriorated. In Darfur, violence continues against civilians, in particular IDPs camps. Aid workers have been expelled in recent weeks and kidnappings continue. In North Sudan, there has been a crackdown on human rights defenders, media and political activists since the April elections. In the South, there are fears that inadequate preparations for the referendum and increasing tensions between North and South could derail diplomatic negotiations.
Activists are calling on all Guarantors to use their address at the UN General Assembly to:
1. Reaffirm the internationally recognized right of the people of Southern Sudan to self-determination and pledge to recognise the choice of Southern Sudanese whether they elect for unity or independence
2. Support the preparations for a free and fair referendum. These preparations must include adequate measures to protect civilians from potential violence, especially in volatile areas.
3. Call on donors to deliver on past pledges to Sudan and to increase their level of engagement in the immediate future, especially in Southern Sudan. Sudan is on course to fail 6 of the 7 Millenium Development Goals being reviewed in New York.
4. Clearly and publicly state that the conflict in Darfur must be resolved, justice delivered for its victims and that international human rights and good governance standards must be respected in Northern as well as in Southern Sudan.

1. 1.      Sudan365 campaign

The Sudan365 (www.sudan365.org) was launched in January and has been organised by a coalition of groups including Aegis Trust, African Centre for Peace and Justice Studies (ACPJS), Arab Coalition for Darfur, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Darfur Consortium, The ENOUGH Project, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI), Italians for Darfur , Al-Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE), Refugees International, Save Darfur Coalition, Sudan Forum Members: Norway, Waging Peace