Mr. Maurice McQuillan:

I suspect the members of the committee are probably more expert politically and economically than any of us so they might be better placed than a group of humanitarians to answer some of the questions themselves.

Deputy Smith asked about numbers. In the paper I distributed I restricted the information to some photographs and text. I could have given a ten-page paper but if anyone wants further detail, I will supply it.

Deputy Crowe asked some interesting questions, particularly about this being a process. That is why we want to keep it on the agenda. This is not a matter that will be solved today or tomorrow. When I went to New York during the summer I got a clear impression from the highest levels that this was the case. That is why we are keen to keep humanitarian efforts that are happening there on the radar, particularly in South Kordofan, tricky though it may be. It will not be solved in a hurry and that is why we must keep it on the agenda. I do not want to go into detail on the question of its being a risky business in this forum but I would be happy to follow up elsewhere.

There was a question about the SPLM, a movement, and the SPLA, an army. They are closely linked. The SPLM-North fought with the SPLM during the civil war but they are separate and have different aspirations. To an extent they see themselves as northerners but not under the present circumstances. It is complicated.

The Government of Sudan controls the air and the SPLA controls the ground. Economically, the allies of North Sudan provide them with money so they can buy jets and the allies of the SPLA provide them with money so they have better ground equipment. As a result there is a stalemate, with the SPLA North winning all ground battles but unable to advance much further because the air is controlled by the Sudanese Government.

There is room for optimism on a mediator following the memorandum of understanding for humanitarian access to South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. It is one thing having a memorandum, but it is another to have it implemented. It is easy to sign up to it during the rainy season when very little can happen anyway. The full implementation of the memorandum and the follow-up will be crucial, but there has already been some rhetoric that may indicate a pulling back from it.

The levers are economic in the north and from reports we can see some changes. We must then look at who has the economic influence. It is no different from many other areas of Africa.

To finish on an optimistic note, conflict is not endemic or historical in this region, particularly South Kordofan. There are animists, Christians and Muslims who traditionally have lived together in peace and harmony in one village. That is part of the tragedy; politics and political aspirations have pushed this to the forefront when traditionally people have lived together quite happily. That gives us room for hope.