GOAL forced to withdraw staff from Darfur

Irish aid agency GOAL has withdrawn all of its international staff from Darfur as the security situation continues to deteriorate.

It has been providing relief to over two hundred thousand war victims for the past three years.

Certain programmes will continue to be implemented by local staff in Khartoum.

GOAL's John O' Shea says the situation became too dangerous.

“Earlier this morning there was a very serious security incident in the last place we've been working - a town called Kutum - another agency's compound was attacked, he said today.

“We're not sure by whom, it doesn't really matter but it's now to dangerous for the international staff to remain there so they've been pulled out by helicopter.

“They're back in El Fasher which is the capital of that part of Darfur and tomorrow they will probably go back to the capital city of Khartoum.”