We receive reports now on a daily basis from our own people on the ground in Darfur on widespread atrocities and grave violations of human rights against the civilian population.

I think now, we in the international community are belatedly wanting to show our solidarity with the Somali peoples and also do our best to help them move to better times.

We need better coordination on the international side, just as they need better and more effective efforts on the Somali side. We have too many reconstruction and development assistance plans.

I think the biggest challenge for Somalia has been the sense that it is a hopeless case of incomprehensible internal conflicts and there is nothing we can do.

We estimate that humanitarian agencies have access to about 350,000 vulnerable people in Darfur - only about one third of the estimated total population in need.

In a world full of competing emergencies and disasters, it really helps if there is an international locomotive that can help us bring attention - help us bring resources.

Secondly, the Government of Sudan should commit to the disarmament and control of the Janjaweed militia and ensure that the targeting of civilians ceases immediately.

First there is the search and rescue phase that is now ending. It is a cruel reality.

I have been working, as emergency relief coordinator, on an international scale, very hard to build a wider alliance of partners in assistance efforts.

No amount of humanitarian assistance can protect people from being attacked.

Many access roads are too dangerous for relief workers, preventing them from carrying out assessments or reaching people in need.

Happy is the soul that has a friend. Happier is the soul that trusts in the truth of the heart of a friend. Happiest is the soul that knows the solemnity of friendship and honours its laws.

Comfort is the enemy of Liberty

Writing is a solitary occupation.

Good must triumph over evil. It usually does in life and in any case it's bad for young people to believe it doesn't.

If you can properly define the problem, then you've already defined the solution as well.

I don't know why British actors are getting big parts in American TV shows. Maybe it's because we're cheap.

He that shuns trifles must shun the world.

I spent many years not knowing where my dad was... Not knowing if my dad was alive, even. He turned up when I was 16 out of the blue.

Sometimes the best kaizen is no kaizen at all.

Life must be lived as play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singing and dancing, and then a man will be able to propitiate the gods.