SUDAN: Deteriorating security jeopardizes aid efforts in Darfur

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 2 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - Some international relief agencies are scaling down their operations, or pulling out altogether, following increased insecurity and rising tensions in the west Sudanese region of Darfur, the UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) told IRIN on Tuesday.

"A large number of people among the nomadic communities are extremely angry as a result of a number of recent incidents in the region," George Somerwill, deputy spokesperson of UNAMIS, said.

"The increased incidence of cattle rustling around the town of Zalingei in west Darfur has upset the nomadic community," Somerwill continued. "The alleged abduction of 15 to 18 young nomadic people of Arabic origin on 26 October has turned these tensions into anger."

Given the large number of displaced persons in Darfur - who are, to a large extent, dependent on international assistance – the idea of down sizing assistance introduces a grave dilemma. Somerwill did say, however, that the situation was "understandable, given the circumstances".

Adding to the tension, the Sudanese army has surrounded camps hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) near Nyala in southern Darfur, impeding access by international aid agencies, Reuters news agency reported today.

Meanwhile, the international relief agency, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), released a report today warning that the violence against civilians in Darfur has been pervasive and ongoing.

"The leading cause of death for those over the age of 5 years in Darfur was violence, rather than disease or malnutrition, according to all retrospective mortality surveys conducted by MSF through the spring and summer of 2004," the report said.

In September 2004, MSF completed a survey among the estimated 66,000 IDPs living in Kalma camp in south Darfur. "According to this survey, violence was the cause of 78% of the reported deaths of those aged between 18-49 years," the emergency manager of MSF-Holland, Ton Koene, told IRIN.

While the violence continues, these IDPs are now faced with a second calamity due to a massive public health crisis induced by a lack of shelter, water, food, proper sanitary environment and access to essential health care.

"Neither the international community nor the government of Sudan have taken effective measures to ensure the cessation of violence against civilians," the report concluded. "Nor have they provided adequate aid and assistance."

The war in Darfur pits the Sudanese government troops and militias, allegedly allied to the government, against rebels fighting to end what they have called marginalisation and discrimination of the region's inhabitants by the state.

The conflict has displaced an estimated 1.45 million people and sent another 200,000 fleeing across the border into Chad. The UN has described the Darfur problem as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

[ENDS]