Madam, - Your editorial of March 16th on the continuing political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur is relevant and timely.
Concern has been operating in Darfur for about a year. The rapid increase of operations by the UN and the NGOs during the second half of 2004 prevented the major humanitarian crisis which had been feared. International pressure on the Sudanese government and rebels helped to bring some improvements in security, but human rights abuses by both sides continued, as the recent report to the UN Security Council made clear.
In recent months the security and humanitarian situation has deteriorated. In these circumstances, people will not leave the camps and return to their villages and start growing crops again. There is a major risk that the refugees will become trapped in a cycle of dependency and the international humanitarian community will have to continue feeding between 1 million and 2 million people in camps.
Political decisions to break the terrible cycle of violence, fear, internal migration and dependency are now essential. Your editorial makes clear how complex the problem is. All the key players - the government of Sudan, the rebels, the UN and the African Union - must all be willing to take bold decisions.
Sustained international focus on Darfur and pressure for a solutionis crucial. The forthcoming international conference on Darfur, to be held in Oslo next month, provides an opportunity to apply such pressure.
Concern will expect the Irish government to play a forceful role at that conference in working towards a comprehensive set of short-term measures to improve the lives of the people of Darfur and lay the foundations for longer-term security and political stability. - Yours, etc.,
TOM ARNOLD, Chief Executive, Concern, Camden Street, Dublin 2.