GOAL calls for decisive action on Darfur crisis

Irish aid agency GOAL has called for decisive political action by the international community to avoid what it described as a "major humanitarian tragedy" in the Sudanese province of Darfur.

The charity, which runs a number of relief programmes in northern part of Darfur, said pressure must be put on "the Sudanese government to call off the Janjaweed militia who have been killing, raping and torturing with impunity, if suffering on a massive scale is to be avoided."

GOAL's chief executive Mr John O'Shea said he will be calling on Mr Tom Kitt, the Minister with responsibility for Overseas Development who is currently visiting Darfur, to use the "influence and clout of the Irish Government to convince the international community of the importance of strong political action".

Mr O'Shea said: "Such is the scale of this tragedy, we will be building up our aid effort by three to four hundred per cent.

"To this end I am appealing for doctors, nurses, engineers, programme managers and others interested in volunteering to contact the GOAL office in Dublin on 2809779. I would also appeal to the general public to keep the financial donations coming in".

GOAL currently operates three static medical clinics and one mobile clinic in and around the Kutum district of Northern Darfur which have vaccinated 35,000 children against measles.

It carries out supplementary feeding at eight sites and also manages a therapeutic feeding centre.

The Agency plans to expand its operation by building latrines and wells in order to improve the water and sanitation situation.