CARE stresses long term political solution to Darfur Conflict

ATLANTA, United States (August 1, 2007) - CARE expressed cautious optimism at the news on Tuesday of the United Nations Security Council Resolution that paves the way for a hybrid U.N. and African Union peacekeeping force of up to 26,000 troops and civilian police in Darfur, Sudan. CARE commends the force's mandate providing for the protection of civilians and aid workers, both of whom have been living and working in incredibly dangerous conditions since the crisis escalated in 2003.

The international humanitarian organization, however, emphasizes that any long-term resolution to the Darfur conflict must be a political one, not military. "A sustainable solution will have to involve ordinary people at the community level — some of whom have not been included in recent peace processes — living together and sharing limited resources," CARE country director Paul Barker said on Wednesday. CARE further emphasizes that broad community level consultation with all parties should ideally inform high-level political dialogue.

Given the demands that the new resolution places on the U.N. peacekeeping structure and resources, CARE urges that donors not use the new mission to create premature pressure to draw down other vital missions such as the ones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Donors and the wider world derive a great benefit from the heavy lifting that the U.N. does on a tight budget in areas at risk of conflict, many of which are important to wider regional stability and security.