DATE=1/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244176
TITLE=SUDAN CEASEFIRE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RELIEF OFFICIALS SAY IT IS CRUCIAL THAT BOTH SIDES IN
SUDAN'S CIVIL WAR EXTEND A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE IN THE SOUTH OF
THE COUNTRY. AS V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS FROM OUR EAST
AFRICA BUREAU, THAT TRUCE IS SET TO EXPIRE FRIDAY.
TEXT: SINCE THE LIMITED CEASEFIRE BEGAN IN JULY, AID WORKERS SAY
THEY HAVE SAVED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM HUNGER AND DISEASE.
THE UNITED NATIONS OPENED MORE FEEDING CENTERS ACROSS BAHR
EL-GHAZAL PROVINCE, LAUNCHING WHAT IT CALLED THE BIGGEST
HUMANITARIAN AIR-DROP IN HISTORY -- MORE THAN 30 FLIGHTS A DAY
CARRYING ENOUGH FOOD FOR NEARLY THREE-MILLION PEOPLE.
THE RELIEF GROUP "MEDECINS SANS FRONTIER" ("DOCTORS WITHOUT
BORDERS") -- OR M-S-F -- DOUBLED STAFF AT CLINICS IN THE SOUTH.
M-S-F SPOKESPERSON, MALINI MORZARIA, SAYS BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE,
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP PROGRAMS GOING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY
TO KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS SAFE FOR STAFF, OR THOSE IN NEED, TO STAY
IN ONE PLACE.
/// MORZARIA ACT ///
BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE WAS PUT INTO PLACE, THERE WERE
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THERE WERE SECURITY ISSUES ON THE
GROUND AND THE TEAMS HAD TO EVACUATE FOR ONE DAY, TWO
DAYS, OFTEN A WEEK. THERE WAS NO SUSTAINED CARE FOR THE
POPULATION AND THE POPULATION WOULD OFTEN FLEE FROM THE
LOCATION WHERE WE WERE SERVING THEM.
/// END ACT ///
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE A DAY WERE DYING AT THE HEIGHT OF LAST
YEAR'S FAMINE IN SUDAN. THE WORST NOW APPEARS OVER. BUT MS.
MORZARIA SAYS A POPULATION WEAKENED BY HUNGER AND UNABLE TO PLANT
CROPS CONTINUES TO LIVE ON THE EDGE OF DISASTER.
/// SECOND MORZARIA ACT ///
THE POPULATION IS IN A VERY FRAGILE SITUATION AND THERE
COULD BE A DETERIORATION, IF THE SAME AMOUNT OF
ASSISTANCE IS NOT CONTINUED. //OPT// WITH CONFLICT
COMES DISPLACEMENT AND THAT HAS A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT
ON THE POPULATION IN TERMS OF FOOD SECURITY. THERE IS
NO POSSIBILITY OF CULTIVATION. THEY OFTEN LOSE THEIR
LIVELIHOOD AND ASSETS THAT HELP TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.
//END OPT//
/// END ACT ///
//OPT// BECAUSE THE CEASEFIRE DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF SOUTHERN
SUDAN, THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS. M-S-F SAYS GOVERNMENT PLANES
BOMBED A CIVILIAN HOSPITAL IN KAJO KEJI IN WESTERN EQUATORIA
WEDNESDAY, DESTROYING THE IMMUNIZATION BLOCK AND DAMAGING THE
SURGICAL THEATER AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES. //END OPT//
MS. MORZARIA SAYS THERE WILL BE NO END TO THE SUFFERING IN
SOUTHERN SUDAN UNTIL THERE IS AN END TO 15 YEARS OF CIVIL WAR.
/// THIRD MORZARIA ACT ///
THE RELIEF ASSISTANCE ON ITS OWN IS NOT ENOUGH. THERE
NEEDS TO BE A POLITICAL WILL TO HAVE SOME SOLUTION TO
THIS VERY LONG-TERM CONFLICT.
/// END ACT ///
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN AND ANIMIST REBELS ARE FIGHTING TROOPS FROM
THE LARGELY MUSLIM, ARABIC NORTH. THE REBELS WANT GREATER
AUTONOMY FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN. THE ARMY SAYS IT IS A WAR OF OUTSIDE
AGGRESSION SPONSORED CHIEFLY BY UGANDA TO TRY AND BRING DOWN THE
GOVERNMENT IN KHARTOUM.
REGIONAL DIPLOMATS BELIEVE BOTH SIDES ARE LIKELY TO CARRY ON WITH
THE CEASEFIRE WHICH WAS ALREADY EXTENDED ONCE IN OCTOBER. THERE
HAS BEEN SOME DIPLOMATIC PROGRESS SINCE THEN WITH SUDAN'S
PRO-GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER REPORTING THAT FOREIGN MINISTER MUSTAFA
OSMAN HAS GONE TO LIBYA TO MEET SUDANESE REBEL LEADER JOHN
GARANG. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/PCF/GE
14-Jan-99 8:38 AM EST (1338 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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