All's Fair - Enough Responds to My Earlier Harsh Words

by Michael Bear

category: Humanitarian Relief

Published March 05, 2009 @ 09:16PM PT

I had some fairly harsh things to say about the Enough Project's initial response to the Sudanese Government's decision to expel aid agencies.  They responded with a great deal of tact, pointing out that (at least some of) my criticism was unfair.

Seeing as how I used my soapbox to cast aspersions, it's only fair to re-post their response:

"The situation in Sudan continues to unfold rapidly, and with the expulsion of key humanitarian organizations, President Bashir is making clear that the world will have to deal with the crisis in Sudan sooner rather than later. Our friend Michael Kleinman has tough words for us over on his blog, some of which I take exception to. When we wrote yesterday about humanitarian agencies being booted out of Darfur, it was indeed unclear if this was an empty threat or would actually happen. Some of this is the danger of trying to write and report in real time and in dealing with a Sudanese regime that often floats trial balloons and then backs down. I take Michaels’ comments in the collegial and thoughtful fashion in which they were offered.

I imagine Michael and I are in full agreement that the move to kick out relief agencies does indeed represent a deadly escalation by the government of Sudan and needs to be responded to as such.  See our statement today on how we feel President Obama and the international community should respond. Also, read this interesting piece by General Tony McPeak in today’s Post making the case for moving ahead with a no-fly zone on an accelerated basis.

As we saw in both the Kosovo and Bosnia interventions by the international community, there were short-term disruptions of access for humanitarian relief — but these interventions ultimately brought about the end of both wars. As we have long argued here at the Enough Project, ending Sudan’s conflict is the ultimate and over-arching goal. Equally clearly, if the Obama administration talks tough and doesn't follow up with practical steps to impose a real cost on President Bashir, it will be a disaster for all involved – most importantly, for the people of Sudan."

The list of actions they recommend includes:

• Working with the U.N. Security Council to support a resolution authorizing an expanded United Nations peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID,  backed by air support to guarantee the safe delivery of relief supplies;
• Accelerating discussions both at the U.N. and with NATO allies regarding the institution of either a no-fly zone or other practical steps to counter continued violations by Sudan on the U.N. ban on offensive military flights in Darfur ;
• Working with the U.N. Security Council to implement targeted sanctions against those most responsible for violence in Sudan and imposing a comprehensive arms embargo against the government of Sudan;
• Making UNAMID effective with a robust force on the ground in Darfur, with a competent lead nation and a clear command-and-control structure;
• Working closely with interested parties with leverage in Sudan and the region, especially China, the United Kingdom, France, and key African countries, to coordinate efforts on peace, the protection of civilians, and accountability; and,
• Appointing a senior special envoy to address not only the situation in Darfur, but Sudan’s multiple conflicts and their regional dimensions.

I'm not sure that these actions will actually make a difference, but I certainly appreciate that they're recommending concrete steps to be taken.  More manyana.