NEWS RELEASES
CANADA CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS AND HUMANITARIAN WORKERS IN SUDAN
March 1, 2002 (4:10 p.m. EST) No. 21
CANADA CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS AND
HUMANITARIAN WORKERS IN SUDAN
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today joined Senator Lois Wilson, Canada's Special Envoy for Sudan, in expressing
deep concern about attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in southern Sudan by the Government of Sudan and
allied militias. Minister Graham and Senator Wilson welcomed the Sudanese government's decision to investigate the
matter, but insisted that such an investigation must be a credible effort that leads to stopping such inexcusable attacks on
civilians.
"These attacks were carried out in clear violation of international humanitarian law and the procedures for humanitarian
operations in southern Sudan, agreed upon by both sides in the civil war," said Senator Wilson. "Attacks of this sort only
serve to undermine both the work of U.S. peace envoy Senator John Danforth and the overall peace process," she added.
Minister Graham and Senator Wilson urged the Government of Sudan to end all attacks against civilians and civilian
installations immediately, and to make public the findings of its investigation into the matter as soon as possible. They
called on all parties to the civil war in Sudan to fully respect international humanitarian law.
They further expressed strong support for the formal peace process of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
(IGAD), and urged both parties to recommit to serious and substantive talks.
IGAD is a regional organization mandated by the Organization for African Unity to lead efforts to bring about a
comprehensive and just conclusion to the civil war in Sudan.
Bombings of World Food Programme distribution sites occurred in Bieh on February 20 and in Akuem on February 9. The
village of Nimne was also bombed on February 9.
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