The Chinese government’s special representative for Darfur, Liu Guijin, on Monday pledged that China would provide more humanitarian assistance to people in Sudan’s western Darfur region.
Guijin was quoted as saying, "We just want to send signals to Sudan and the outside world that the Chinese people and their government are sympathetic with the people there in Darfur. China is showing solidarity to the Sudanese unity government in its efforts to help people in Darfur."
The announcement comes amid growing international pressure for China to use its influence on the Sudanese government to end the violence in Darfur, where the Sudanese government has been accused of unleashing aggressive armed groups called the Janjaweed to counter the rebels.
Many observers are accusing China of not using its influence as the main buyer of Sudanese oil to pressure the government in Khartoum and of blocking United Nations Security Council resolutions by its using its veto power.
According to international estimates, more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million displaced in what some governments are calling genocide.
The Sudanese government is downplaying the death toll of the Darfur conflict and says it is closer to 9,000.
The conflict has also caused many Darfur residents to flee to neighboring countries, especially to Chad and the Central African Republic.