Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Darfur, Sudan

The Secretary-General is very concerned by the deteriorating situation in Darfur, following the recent kidnapping of 18 hostages by the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), and the mobilization of thousands of Arab militias in areas of West and South Darfur. The SLA and the militias risk sparking a new round of violence that could claim the lives of thousands of civilians.

The Secretary-General urges the parties to the conflict to respect the N'Djamena ceasefire in its entirety, on the SLA to ensure the well-being and release of the hostages, and the militias to stand down. The Secretary-General reminds the Government of Sudan of its responsibility under International Humanitarian Law to prevent any attacks against civilians.

The Secretary General is troubled by reports received today indicating that this morning, in a pre-dawn operation, the Government of Sudan organized the involuntary relocation of Internally Displaced Persons from Al Geer village, near Nyala in South Darfur. This operation not only violates basic principles of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, but is also in direct contravention of commitments on voluntary return made by the Government, including the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the International Organization for Migration noted in Security Council resolution 1564 (2004). The Secretary-General strongly urges the Government to halt immediately all such relocation operations and to facilitate the return of the affected persons from the inappropriate sites to which they have been taken. This should be done in accordance with the principles noted above and in consultation with the international agencies present on the ground in Darfur.