DARFUR, October 10 (IslamOnline.net) – A delegation representing a South African Muslim organization has wrapped up a several days’ humanitarian mission in Darfur with calls to avoid exaggerating the crisis and seeking a political settlement in Sudan’s troubled western region.

Africa Muslims’ Agency offices in Johannesburg delivered 40 tons of relief aid to northern Darfur’s capital Al-Fashir.

"This is straight from the Muslims of South Africa to the Muslims of Sudan," Emran Ahmod, an administrator with the AMA, told IslamOnline.net.

The relief aid was donated by civil society and businessmen, some of whom were part of the 12-person delegation.

It included water purification tablets to purify at least three million liters of water, bottled water, cooking oil, maize and plastic sheeting to make temporary tents.

"We’ve been raising awareness through radio interviews, pamphlets and an SMS campaign. But we know we can never do enough. Ten planes of cargo won’t even be enough to alleviate this problem," Ahmod said.

Accompanied by South Africa’s Ambassador in Sudan, Reddy Mampane, the 12-person delegation visited Zamzam camp, where an estimated 17000 people are staying in makeshift tents, and Al Shock camp, where an estimated 42000 people are being housed.

The Darfur conflict that erupted in April 2003 pitted the Sudanese government against the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA).

Despite efforts, the AMA’s delegation recognized the humanitarian relief is not enough to defuse the Darfur crisis.

"This is not a matter of food. It’s a matter of political settlement," said Gaafar Salih, the deputy director of the AMA office in Sudan.

"Local and international politics is the problem. There is also a lot of exaggeration about what is happening in Darfur. We need this conflict to end so that people can produce their own food again. But that will not be for long," said Salih.

A similar position was echoed by Cassim Peer, the South African foreign affairs assistant director for humanitarian policy issues.

"On the political side, we believe that negotiations must continue to resolve the issues in the area amicably."

He said that: "Atrocities that have allegedly been committed must stop urgently."

However, the South African diplomat stressed that: "No individual country should enforce its views as a resolution to this problem."

He said: "A multi-lateral approach should be taken," to defuse the civil conflict in Darfur.

The South African government had 150 monitors in Darfur where tribal and political conflicts prevail, he said.

The South African government spared no effort to help the Muslim organization, which has offices in 34 African countries, to send humanitarian relief supplies to Darfur.

The South African diplomat said his department had funded the transport of the aid.

"The South African government is concerned about the plight of the people in Darfur and is trying to do all it can to alleviate their suffering. This trip is part of the support that the government is giving civil society organizations like the AMA, to enable them to support the people of Darfur," said Peer.

"The United Nations agencies have indicated that about 1.4 million people have been displaced in refugee camps in Darfur and in neighboring Chad. These people are experiencing great difficulty due to a lack of food, water, medicines and other basic necessities," noted the South African diplomat.

Peer further said that, "With the onset of the rainy season there is also great concern raised by aid workers that there could be an outbreak of malaria, cholera, and hepatitis."

It is the first time that the government had funded aid transfer to Darfur, but the third time this year that it has assisted non-governmental organizations deliver aid to Darfur.