Darfur Donors Conference Concludes, Issues Statement

Doha, April 08 (QNA) - Participants of the International Donors Conference for the reconstruction and development of Darfur have agreed that Darfur development strategy is the main approach to the gradual shift from humanitarian aid to development. This came in a statement issued today at the end of the conference. The statement underlined the participating countries and organizations have adopted this strategy as a starting point for the recovery phase of the reconstruction and development in the Darfur region during the six-year period from the age of strategy. The statement added that $ 88.5 million of the Qatari donation have been allocated for supporting the implementation of short-term projects included in the strategy of Darfur development, as this contribution represents 50 percent of the total projects budget, which its total amount is $ 177.4 million. The statement noted to collection of the necessary funding for the implementation of the strategy on the medium and long term, $ 1.46 billion , including grants, loans, credits, bank credits and technical assistance. It also included renewal of the Sudanese government commitment to provide an amount of $2.65 billion, as set out in the Doha document for peace in Darfur, bringing the total amount of $ 3.696 billion . The final statement stated that the adopted mechanism is characterized by transparency and accountability, competence and flexibility to manage the funding necessary to implement the strategy development of Darfur, as well as the adoption of the Council of Reconstruction Management Darfur, chaired by the State of Qatar, and the membership of the Government of the Republic of Sudan, the Regional Authority for Darfur, the United Nations, representatives from donor countries and development partners. The statement stressed the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Sudan to provide all legal and procedural, security and logistics facilities so that the development partners, national organizations and international non-governmental would move freely to follow-up the implementation of the development projects in Darfur. It also approved a one-year technical committee chaired by Qatar with membership of representatives of each of Government of Sudan, Regional Authority of Darfur, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), UNAMID, donors partners in order to activate the speedy implementation of the development strategy of Darfur, in particular the basic short-term projects. The final statement of the International Donors Conference for the reconstruction and development of Darfur welcomed the Justice and Equality Movement joining the Doha agreement for peace in Darfur, and called on the other parties that have not signed to join the document to achieve security, stability and development in the region. The statement commended all the humanitarian efforts that have been made by the Government of Sudan, countries, organizations of the United Nations, other international organizations and national non-governmental organizations. Participants stressed the importance of strategic development of Darfur prepared by the Joint Assessment Mission to Darfur (DJAM) in accordance with Article 32 of the Doha document for peace in Darfur, as a basic document for the prioritization and implementation of recovery, reconstruction and development in the Darfur region. In a related context, the statement also praised the active participation of all development partners and civil society groups in the Darfur region for their efforts in preparing the Darfur development strategy .. It also commended the international and regional efforts made and still led by the State of Qatar to promote the peace process and support the development and stability in the Darfur region, and its ongoing efforts to encourage the movements and the non-signatories to join the peace process. The statement thanked the Government of Sudan for all the efforts and facilities provided to support the process of peace, stability and development. It also commended all countries and regional and international organizations for their continued support for the peace process, stability and development in the Darfur region. The statement also expressed thanks and appreciation to the State of Qatar under the leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for hosting and efforts to make this conference a success. The statement also thanked the Government of the Republic of Sudan, the Darfur Regional Authority, the United Nations , the United Nations Development Programme, UNAMID and all international development partners and donors for their continued efforts for the success of the process of recovery, reconstruction and development in the Darfur region. The statement stressed that the viable solution to the Darfur crisis is to be achieved through peaceful dialogue that leads to sustainable peace, pointing out that Darfur after starting the implementation of the Doha document for peace in Darfur need a transition from humanitarian relief to early recovery, reconstruction and development.(QNA)