Sudan: OIC to Build 120 Darfur Villages At U.S. $485 Million
Uthman Abubakar
22 May 2009
The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has announced plans to construct 120 villages in the battered Darfur region of Western Sudan at the cost of $485 million US Dollars.
The Secretary-General of the organization, Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, made the announcement through a joint statement issued by the leaders of the African Union (AU), the Arab League and the OIC after closed-door talks with President Omar Al-Bashir in Khartoum, Tuesday.
Dr. Jean Ping, AU Commission Chairman, Mr. Amr Moussa, Arab League Secretary-General, and Dr. Ihsanoglu were in Khartoum on a two-day visit on the invitation of President Al-Bashir in keeping with their commitment to coordinating efforts towards ending the 6-year-old Darfur crisis.
The OIC chief also said in the joint statement that the organization would hold a special meeting of its member-countries dedicated to the Darfur peace process and development. He did not say when the construction of the villages would commence.
During the meeting with President Al-Bashir and other Sudanese officials, the principles of the three organizations, according to the statement, discussed the political development, humanitarian and security situations in the 3-state war-wrecked region and the implication of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest on Al-Bashir, among other crucial issues.
They reiterated their call on the rebel movements in Darfur to join the peace process, calling on the international community to exert pressure on the recalcitrant parties to drop their confrontational and hard-line stance and join the peace process for the common good of all.
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North Darfur Fighting
25 May 2009
The hybrid African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has condemned heavy fighting in and around the town of Umm Baru which left over 50 people injured and forced hundreds to flee their homes.
According to a news release issued by the Mission, Sudanese Government forces clashed with armed elements of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for several hours yesterday in the town, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chadian border in the far west of North Darfur state.
Explosions were also reported in the area after Government planes flew overhead last night, the Mission added.
UNAMID peacekeepers based at a camp near Umm Baru report that at least 53 people have been seriously injured and need evacuation for further medical treatment. The casualties include civilians, Government soldiers and JEM members.
About 350 civilians - mainly women, children and the elderly - and 100 unarmed Sudanese soldiers and members of the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minnawi (SLA/MM), a pro-Government faction, are currently taking refuge near the UNAMID camp.
The Mission stressed that urgent humanitarian aid, particularly food, water, medical supplies and tents, is needed to help civilians displaced by the fighting. UNAMID has treated some of the wounded, and is on standby to evacuate those needing further medical care.
UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada condemned yesterday's fighting, and urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.
Yesterday's clashes follow an incident earlier this month in which JEM armed elements attacked Sudanese Government forces based near the town of Kornoi, located between Umm Baru and the Chadian border.
An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting in Darfur, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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