Situation in Darfur

The United States views with grave concern the deteriorating situation in Darfur in Western Sudan. It is clear that government-supported militia groups (the so-called jingaweit) are continuing to burn villages and to kill and abuse civilians, resulting in a massive humanitarian crisis.

As noted in today’s United Nations Security Council briefing on Darfur, as many as 700,000 people have been internally displaced, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates 110,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries. The lives and livelihoods of those affected are at imminent risk.

The United States condemns these atrocities in the strongest terms. We call on the Government of Sudan to take immediate steps to stop the jingaweit, and to allow for outside monitoring of the situation in Darfur.

The United States welcomes the talks that began on March 30 in Chad between the Government of Sudan and the opposition groups, in the presence of officials from the United States and European Union. We urge the Government of Sudan and the opposition groups to cooperate in negotiating an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in order to facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access.

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