http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2008-08-29T19:16:00-05:00 Lauren Landis is the Sr. Representative, Sudan, Sudan Programs Group.
Lauren's previous post: Stop the Fighting in Sudan

Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked for USAID's Food for Peace Program and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Save the Children, delivering food and humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable populations. I've visited people all over Africa who have lost everything: their homes, their livelihoods, their families and their friends because of violence, war, famine and other catastrophes. In Sudan, the situation is particularly bad -- the UN calls it the world's worst humanitarian disaster. Currently there are 2.5 million people living in IDP camps, driven from their lands by insecurity and violence.

Because I know the fear in which these people live -- I've gone to Darfur repeatedly -- I was troubled when I read press reports that displaced persons were being ordered to move. In addition, the Government of Sudan has said it is going to divide one IDP camp in Darfur into several smaller camps. I'm not on the ground in Darfur right now, but I want to take a moment to reiterate the U.S. policy on the movement of IDPs.

Our government condemns any efforts to pressure internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur to leave IDP camps before the displaced have voluntarily decided to return to their homes. We also condemn any forced movements of IDPs. We insist that the Government of Sudan adhere to the international agreements that it has made with respect to ensuring IDP returns in Darfur are voluntary. Moreover, any IDP sites must meet all international humanitarian standards, be fully accessible to humanitarian workers, and be secure.

The people in Darfur have suffered enough. They don’t need to be forced to move against their will.
]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/darfur_suffered_enough/ 2007-11-03T08:22:00-05:00 Lauren Landis is the Sr. Representative, Sudan, Sudan Programs Group.
Lauren's previous post: En Route to Darfur

I returned from Darfur last week where I went to look at the progress U.S. contractors are making on the camps that will house U.N. peacekeepers when they arrive in Sudan. I spent much of my time around El Fasher in camps including Zam Zam and UmKadada. El Fasher is the capital of North Darfur.

From what I saw, there’s a lot that’s been done: Crews are working around the clock in three shifts to install the big white tents and containers where the UN troops will live and work. They’ve built mess halls, septic tanks, perimeter walls and vehicle repair shops. It’s quite a sight to see these camps literally sprouting up in the dry dusty red clay of Darfur.

But around the time of my visit, there were some ominous developments in Darfur: Ten AU peacekeepers were killed outside the town of Haskanita, and there was fighting between the rebels and the Government of Sudan troops and their allies. The attacks and the escalation of violence drove home the point that UN peacekeepers must be sent to Darfur as quickly as possible. We need to get more troops on the ground to bring some security to the region. The people of Darfur are frightened; the humanitarian workers are frightened and some of them are leaving.

The UN-sponsored peace talks are scheduled to begin in Libya on October 27. But in the meantime, we must all insist that the Government of Sudan, the rebels and everyone else involved in Sudan stop fighting.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sudan_stop_fighting/ 2007-10-15T17:53:00-05:00 Lauren Landis is the Sr. Representative, Sudan, Sudan Programs Group.
Lauren's next post: Stop the Fighting in Sudan

Right now, I’m on my way to Darfur (via Dubai and Khartoum) to look at some of the camps the UN peacekeepers will use when they are sent to the region. This is one of the many visits I have made to Sudan – both to Darfur and the South – since I became the Senior Representative on Sudan at the State Department more than a year ago. And each time I come to Darfur, I visit the displacement camps where nearly two and a half million people live. I am reminded once again of what they have suffered and the importance of what we all want – a peaceful solution so that these people can go home. The UN calls Darfur the largest humanitarian disaster in the world. Talking to these people – and seeing their living conditions – makes you realize how important it is that we get more peacekeepers on the ground as soon as possible, and we get a peace agreement all will live by.

Last week at the United Nations, there was a special Ministerial meeting on Darfur before the General Assembly. One of the things leaders focused on was the need to deploy the peacekeepers – the UNAMID force – quickly. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Deputy Secretary John Negroponte, Special Envoy Andrew Natsios and Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer all stressed the need for rapid deployment.

UN Resolution 1769, which established the peacekeeping force in July, calls for 26,000 troops and police to be in Darfur when UNAMID is at full force.

Right now, there are about 7,000 African Union troops in Darfur. They have done a good job, but they have been overwhelmed by the task. These African troops will become part of the UNAMID force.

What most Americans probably don’t know is that the United States built and maintained the base camps for the African Union troops. Altogether we have spent about $400 million building and operating 34 base camps. And we are spending more money to expand seven of those camps for to hold approximately 1500 new troops.

So that’s why I am going to Darfur: to make sure the camp expansion is taking place on time – so more troops can get on the ground as quickly as possible.

But American assistance to the people of Darfur and Sudan will not stop just because the UN deploys. In fact, the U.S. will contribute about one-quarter of the funds needed for the peacekeeping mission. And that’s in addition to the $4 billion we have already provided to the people of Sudan since 2005.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/en_route_darfur/ 2007-09-28T21:51:00-05:00