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No Genocide, Mass Rapes In Darfur: WHO
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"There
are political powers seeking to condemn Sudan through claims of
genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur," Dr Gezairy said (L)
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By
Imam El-Leithy, IOL Correspondent
DARFUR,
July 29 (IslamOnline.net) - International, western and Arab
organizations underlined that the situation in Darfur province, west
of Sudan, does not amount to genocide or ethnic cleansing as claimed
by western powers, chiefly the US.
They
acknowledged, however, that there is a "humanitarian
catastrophe" in the province aggravated by fighting between
rebels and the government forces.
"Reports
submitted by the WHO employees have not mentioned any acts of ethnic
cleansing, genocide or mass rapes as claimed by western human rights
organizations," Dr Hussein Gezairy, Regional Director of WHO's
Eastern Mediterranean Region, told IslamOnline.net correspondent in
Darfur.
"The
main problem we are facing here is a humanitarian one due to the
health conditions of displaced people," he averred.
The
WHO official also asserted that the "situation in Darfur is not
much different from that in the rest of Sudan which suffers a
development crisis like most African countries."
"There
are political powers seeking to condemn Sudan through claims of
genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur," Dr Gezairy said.
An
official in the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) group agreed.
In
statements published Wednesday, July 28, by the Egyptian daily Al-Akhbar,
he regretted the frequent use of expressions that do not reflect the
facts on the ground and only fall within a propagation campaign.
"What
is going on in Darfur is not genocide but rather a humanitarian
tragedy," said the MSF official.
On
Thursday, July 22, the US House Of Representatives unanimously passed
a resolution describing the situation in Darfur a "genocide
."
However,
Sudanese officials and experts have refuted
the claims and warned of plots targeting the unity of
the oil-exporting country.
Harming
Sanctions
Dr
Gezairy warned that "any sanctions slapped against Sudan would
stymie the cooperation shown by the Sudanese government with relief
agencies."
The
Who official exhorted western countries to "back the cooperation
currently shown by Khartoum instead of indicting it, a matter that
would aggravate the situation in Darfur and the Sudan in
general."
The
MSF official echoed similar conviction.
"Imposing
sanctions on Sudan under the pretext of genocide acts in Darfur would
harm and not improve relief works."
A
US draft resolution threatening sanctions against Sudan in 30 days was
met with opposition
in the UN Security Council on Wednesday, July 28, amid
calls to give the Sudanese government more time to rein in militias in
Darfur.
Seven
of the Council's 15 members pressed the US to soften a threat of UN
sanctions against Khartoum it failed to disarm Janajaweed militias in
Darfur.
Rumors
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Dr. Hassan treating a Sudanese child in Darfur
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Dr.
Mansour Hassan, who championed an Egyptian medical envoy to Darfur,
agreed with the WHO official.
"The
catastrophic situation in Darfur can not be denied but rumors about
organized rape and genocide are but attempts by the western states to
indict the Sudanese government," he said.
"We
have examined more than 27,000 cases, mostly women, and never heard of
a case of forced pregnancy," Dr. Hassan, whose medical team
visited six camps of displaced Darfuris, told IOL.
The
head of the Egyptian medical convoy also refuted allegations of
genocide acts in Darfur.
"Around
99% of the families he saw in the camps were 'complete families' that
have not been exposed to any such acts of genocide."
Dr.
Hassan said his team performed several surgeries, rarely involving gun
shots injuries.
Misleading
Displacement
On
the number of people displaced because of the conflict in Darfur, a
WHO official told IOL on condition of anonymity it would be very hard
to give an accurate figure, citing "misleading cases."
"A
large number of the locals living in villages adjacent to camps have
registered themselves as displaced to get privileges such as food,
water and healthcare services," he asserted.
"Officials
in charge of one camp in Darfur submitted a list putting the number of
the displaced people in the camp at 47,000. However, we found out that
the actual number does not exceed 11,000."
The
WHO official regretted that the rest flock to the camp in the morning
to get a share of aide offered by international relief agencies and
then go home in the evening.
He
also charged that some mayors and some trial leaders sell relief
registration cards to villagers against a sum of money amounting to 20
dollars per person.
Overall
the UN estimates the costs of humanitarian relief at US 240 million
dollars.
To
date, less than half of that has been pledged. WHO requires about US$
1.2 million per month to carry out its operations in the three Darfur
States.
The
UN says the Darfur conflict displaced around a million people and
killed 30,000 others.
Sudanese
research centers question the figures and estimate those killed at
2000, including civilians, pro-government forces and rebels.
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