Dr Williams fears for Sudan
Posted: 02 Nov 2006 @ 00:00
THE FRAGILE PEACE in Sudan is under threat because of the continuing food
crisis, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned this week.
During a week-long visit to the country, Dr Williams was asked what his
message would be to Western governments. "Deliver," he said. "Quite simply. And
in order for that to happen, look at the conventions, look at the protocols
that so slow up the process of delivery. Because with every day that passes the
situation is liable to become worse."
The long-running war between the largely Muslim north and the largely
Christian south was ended by agreements in 2005.
On Sunday, Dr Williams visited a camp for displaced people outside the
capital, Khartoum. Some refugees have been housed in near-desert conditions for
several years. On Monday, he spoke with members of the interreligious council,
and on Tuesday opened a new cathedral at Renk, surrounded by a crowd of up to
4000.
On Wednesday, he travelled down the Nile to see feeding programmes. Dr
Williams said: "Here in Africa it's impossible to think of development and
feeding goals being achieved without partnership with those organisations on
the ground which are best equipped to deliver locally. . . We have seen this
morning 700 children who are fed daily in an Anglican school here in Malakal,
with the co-operation of the World Food Programme, and this is the pattern we
need to work to."