Sudan: A crucial time for peace in Darfur

The next few weeks are absolutely critical if lasting peace and reconciliation are to be achieved in the war-ravaged Darfur region of western Sudan, warned the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland. In his presentation to the UN Security Council following a recent visit to Sudan and Chad, Egeland outlined five goals that needed to be achieved immediately: implementing the Darfur peace agreement; bringing on board those who have not signed it; substantially strengthening the African Union Mission in Sudan; accelerating the transition of AMIS to a UN operation; and securing and funding the humanitarian lifeline to more than three million people.