International Community Must Act Now on Darfur Crisis

2.30.40pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Sep 2006

Lib Dem MPs and MEPs gather to highlight the crisis in Darfur. The blue berets they are wearing symbolise the need for UN involvement.

South East MEP Sharon Bowles this week backed calls from her party for immediate international action to save the people of Darfur.

At the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton, Sharon Bowles joined the campaign to highlight the plight of the two million refugees in western Sudan.

Sharon Bowles commented: "The Global Day for Darfur protests saw the world demand that the international community act, where the Sudanese Government has not. The desperate humanitarian situation in the region is worsening daily.

"Now is the time for us to act decisively. We must not fail the people of Darfur as we failed the people of Rwanda nearly 12 years ago and turn our backs. "

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. 23 Liberal Democrats MPs, MEPs, peers and GLA members joined Sharon Bowles in pledging their support for the 'Global Day for Darfur' campaign at the Liberal Democrat conference on 17 September 2006.

2. Lib Dem MP Susan Kramer will table an Early Day Motion calling for action in Darfur once Parliament reconvenes on 9 October 2006.

3. For more information about Crisis Action's 'Global Day for Darfur', visit www.dayfordarfur.org