Norway supports deployment of additional human rights observers to Darfur

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is contributing an additional NOK 1.7 million to the deployment to Darfur of observers from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Norway has already provided support for the first eight observers, in June, and the additional contribution is a follow-up to UN Security Council resolution 1564 of 18 September. The new contribution was announced by State Secretary, Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen at the conference on Sudan that is being held in Oslo on 27-28 September.

“The situation in Darfur is still critical. It is essential to keep up the pressure the Security Council is putting on the parties, especially the government in Khartoum, to halt the violence and provide effective protection to the civilian population,” said Mr Helgesen. “The deployment of additional human rights observers will increase the security of the civilian population, a consideration emphasised by the Security Council in its resolution. In order to have the observers in place as soon as possible, we will be covering all the costs this time together with the USA and Canada. Furthermore, the monitoring mission led by the African Union needs to be strengthened and made more effective, and this will be one of the matters we will be raising at today’s meeting,” said the State Secretary.

Norway provided NOK 10 million in support of the African Union’s engagement in Darfur in August, and more than NOK 120 million for humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict in Darfur. The support was channelled through the UN, the Red Cross and NGOs, and included cash, personnel and goods: trucks, field hospitals, communications equipment and high-energy biscuits for malnourished or under-nourished children.