09/14/2004

Refugees International Board Member Ambassador Richard Holbrooke today called for greater action by the United States to address the political and humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. Speaking before an overflow crowd at a public press briefing, co-sponsored by RI and the Brookings-SAIS Project on Internal Displacement, Ambassador Holbrooke, joined by Senator Jon Corzine and UN Special Representative Francis Deng, stressed that for lives to be saved in Darfur the root political causes of the crisis had to be addressed. Darfur is “a bottomless money pit unless and until the political issues are dealt with.” While praising Secretary of State Powell for calling the situation genocide and noting some progress in the overall humanitarian situation, Ambassador Holbrooke called on the U.S. to act in keeping with its verbal commitments to resolve the crisis and to carry out the following:

• Increase its logistical and monetary support to the ceasefire monitors of the African Union. Just one C-130 aircraft, which an aviation expert estimates will cost $10 million to lease and operate for one year, would increase the mobility of the African Union troops exponentially.
• Appoint a senior diplomat, with real political stature, to represent the U.S. at the political talks between the rebel movements and the government of Sudan under the auspices of the African Union in Abuja, Nigeria.
• Appoint a full-time ambassador to the African Union.
• Join the European Union and the African Union in continuing to apply political pressure on the government of Sudan, pressure that Francis Deng agreed had the potential to result in the acceptance of much greater numbers of African Union troops in the region.
• Provide 20-25% of the current funding shortfall for humanitarian operations; the UN estimates the current shortfall in pledges at $400 million.

Earlier in the day, Refugees International board member Ambassador Richard Holbrooke joined the Diane Rehm show [September 14] to discuss the ongoing humanitarian situation in Darfur. Ambassador Hobrooke visited Darfur at the end of August, accompanied by Senator Jon Corzine. Killings, rapes and massive civilian displacement in the Darfur region of Sudan have prompted Secretary of State Colin Powell to describe the situation as genocide. The European Union is threatening sanctions. Ambassador Holbrooke, along with other commentators, provided an update on what is happening in Darfur and how the rest of the world is responding.

Listen to the Show Darfur discussion.