Al Mahmoud Opens Darfur Reconstruction and Development Council's Meeting

HE Al Mahmoud added that today's meeting aims to review the progress that has been achieved in the implementation of Darfur reconstruction projects since the issuance of the decisions of the International Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Darfur in Doha in 2013.
The meeting also assesses what has been achieved and highlights and explores the challenges facing the implementation and ways to overcome them in order to push forward the wheel of development in Darfur in light of the big gains that have been achieved thanks to the remarkable restoration of security throughout Darfur and the importance attached by all to human development in Darfur, he pointed out.
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs said that work over the past years focused on three pillars, namely to meet some of the humanitarian needs that have emerged following the adoption of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, to garner international support in the long term and not to wait until a comprehensive political settlement is achieved. "To this end, we did all that we can to begin the reconstruction and development projects in order to go hand in hand with the peaceful settlement efforts so that people can feel the difference between the horrors of war and the blessing of stability," His Excellency said.
Emanating from this and following the adoption of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, the State of Qatar began the implementation of food and reconstruction projects to encourage stability and voluntary return, HE Al Mahmoud said, adding that this included the construction of 5 service complexes in five states with schools, health centers, water stations and police centers.
Building on the success of these complexes, preparations are ongoing to implement 10 more service complexes at a cost of $70 million, he said, pointing out that their locations have already been identified in different states of Darfur by two villages in every state. The construction will start immediately, His Excellency said, adding that the State Qatar has extended $50 million to support a program to address some problems facing nomadic people.
Qatar has also allocated during the last period (Phase I) an amount of $88.5 million equivalent to 50% of the United Nations Development Program's allocation to implement several projects in the fields of reconstruction, justice, reconciliation, economic recovery, health, education, water, roads, electricity supply using solar energy and voluntary return, he said, noting that the meeting will provide a detailed review on these projects.
HE Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud called on Qatar's partners in Darfur peace to contribute by paying the remaining $88.9 million of the total amount set by the Darfur development strategy, and to announce other contributions that show their commitment to support stability and development in Darfur. 
Owing to the importance of water and sanitation, an agreement was signed with Qatar Charity to complete 14 water stations and drill 255 wells which are scheduled for completion in 2018, he said. 
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs looked forward to see soon the completion of arrangements for the establishment of the Darfur Development Bank announced by HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, which focuses on Darfur and provides necessary funding for small projects to help the people of Darfur to secure a decent life and enhance the chances for peace. 
His Excellency called upon all partners to fulfill their announced pledges as soon as possible, urging them to support the efforts of recovery, reconstruction and development in Darfur. 
At the 12th meeting of the committee for following-up implementation of Doha document for peace in Darfur, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs said that the celebration, which was held in the city of El Fasher in Darfur and attended by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of Sudan Omar Hassan Al Bashir, President of Chad Idriss Deby, and President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera, showed that the people of Darfur were living together in peace and harmony and that stability and peace prevailed throughout Darfur. 
This was further enhanced by the accession of many movements and factions recently to peace process, he said, referring to the recent joining of Sudan liberation movement (peace and development) which signed an agreement with the government of North Darfur. 
He also pointed out that Doha witnessed in January the final signing of the agreement between the Sudanese government and the movement of "Sudan liberation army" second revolution - on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. 
HE Al Mahmoud said that what was stated in a UNAMID report before the Committee at this meeting confirms that most of the document items have been implemented though some not fully implemented, especially with regard to the return of refugees and displaced people, calling on the UNAMID to brief the committee on detailed reasons behind the slow pace of implementation of the said items and give proposals to overcome them so that the Committee can work together with the government and other interested parties in order to address them. 

Source : QNA