Brown, Sarkozy pledge to help Darfur

LONDON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have pledged to redouble efforts to help those suffering in Darfur.

More than 2 million people have been displaced, while another 4 million rely on food aid and other humanitarian assistance as fighting between the Sudanese government and rebel factions continued.

"The pain of the people of Darfur demands quick and decisive action from the international community," the two heads of state said in a commentary published in the Times of London.

The leaders said they will support the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1769, which passed unanimously and was the culmination of intense diplomatic activity.

The resolution was created to help ensure security in the region and enable the safe delivery of supplies and food by sending 20,000 peacekeepers and 4,000 police to the war-ravaged region.

But Brown and Sarkozy said they are also sending envoys to Sudan to call for a cease-fire and are urging all parties to participate in political talks under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union.

They also promised to commit resources to help with the country’s economic reconstruction once security allows.