Media Release

FA113a - 25 July 2004

Joint Statement by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff

Humanitarian Disaster in Sudan

We are appalled and outraged by the humanitarian and human rights disaster now taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. This tragedy is the responsibility of the Government of Sudan, and the result of the Government's failure to take action against the Janjaweed militia.

I (Alexander Downer) have already expressed my grave concern directly to the Sudanese Foreign Minister, and called on the Sudanese Government to fulfil its responsibility for the well-being and security of its own people.

We strongly endorse the similar call by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. We call on the members of the Security Council to pass a resolution resulting in effective, practical action to stop the flow of weapons to Darfur; the imposition of realistic sanctions against the Government of Sudan; and support for the planned deployment of the African Union.

We will do what we can to ease the suffering of the people of Sudan. We will announce shortly and separately increases in our humanitarian assistance. We will keep this tragic situation under active review.

We will each consider what further action our governments can take to put pressure on the Government of Sudan to act immediately and effectively to bring this unnecessary catastrophe under control.

Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 - Julie McDonald (Departmental) 02 6261 1555