Released this morning. From our friends over at SDC:
WASHINGTON, December 17, 2008 – The Save Darfur Coalition today blasted revised U.N. figures for end-of-year UNAMID troop deployment, which fail to meet an already downgraded target. While U.N. officials previously pledged to deploy a modest 80 percent of the mission by this month – almost 18 months after the force was authorized – that number was lowered to 60 percent in October. Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition president, denounced this failure and underscored the need for President-elect Obama to make ending this crisis a priority from his first day in office.
“It is an outrage that the world’s leading powers can muster only 54 percent of a peacekeeping mission that they themselves authorized 17 months ago. While heads of state profess their sympathies for, and solidarity with, the Darfuri people they follow-up heartfelt talk with half-hearted actions. Members of the U.N. Security Council and their collective 54 percent effort deserve at best an “Incomplete” and are on a path for an “F,” as lasting peace, justice and security continue to elude the Darfuri people.
“This is the challenge President-elect Obama will inherit – and one he must be prepared to confront from day one of his administration. We and others urge him to end the crisis instead of merely managing it by leading a ‘peace surge’ for Darfur. President-elect Obama must seize this opportunity by rallying key powers to devote full-time attention and resources to ending the continued hostilities, violence and suffering once and for all. Fifty-four percent efforts won’t be good enough – he must lead the world in devoting a 100 percent effort to resolve this crisis.”
