Transcript
CARLOS VARGOS-LLOSA: I know that the meeting is about Darfur and very often the attention is on Darfur, but clearly what we’ve been seeing in the past few days and we’re still seeing today is a reminder that the problem is not only Darfur, but there’s a regional problem. It’s particularly sad that in a region, in a place, as you mentioned, where there’s already so many IDPs and refugees, just in the past, what, 48 hours we have 20,000 new refugees who have crossed from Chad into Cameroon, and I suppose there’s always a possibility that that number increases -- so important always to keep the regional focus and not only on Darfur, though evidently all these conflicts and displacements are linked.
In terms of Darfur, I left there already quite a few weeks ago, just before Christmas. In the few words I’ll say, I’ll try to also say some positive things. I think all of us who are in the humanitarian world have to be eternal optimists. Otherwise, we would have quit. Personally, I’ve been in it 17 years, so somehow I’ve managed to maintain my optimism. Unfortunately, often, the reality makes it difficult to remain optimistic. When I left there a few weeks ago, I was mentioning to some of the people I met earlier today, as I went around many IDP camps, yes, the situation was very, very hard, very difficult. But at least I could sense some, if not optimism, at least some expectation particularly linked to the possible arrival of UNAMID. Clearly, a lot of expectation among IDPs but also among aid workers who felt that evidently a much stronger peacekeeping presence, not the least coming after the shortcomings of late, that this would bring more security for the IDPs evidently but also for all of us working there.
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