Attacks on aid workers rise as Darfur deteriorates

INTERNATIONAL aid agencies warned yesterday that the humanitarian situation in war-torn Darfur was deteriorating as attacks on aid workers increased.

July saw the highest number of attacks on humanitarian workers since the three-year-old conflict in the region of Sudan in west Africa began, according to four international aid agencies.

Eight humanitarian workers were killed during the month, which saw violence and instability escalate.

As well as the deaths, more than 20 aid vehicles were stolen or hijacked.

The agencies — CARE, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Oxfam and World Vision — said the number of violent attacks had increased since the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed on May 5.

Since then, a rising tide of unrest had made humanitarian access, especially to remote mountain areas, increasingly difficult.

They warned that the increasing insecurity was crippling their ability to reach people in need and nearly half of Darfur’s population were not thought to be receiving the assistance they required.

Paul Smith-Lomas, regional director of Oxfam, one of several organisations to have a member of staff killed in recent weeks, called for an immediate ceasefire.

He said: “The targeting of humanitarian workers is completely unacceptable.

“Since the signing of the Agreement, Darfur has become increasingly tense and violent, which has led to the tragic deaths of far too many civilians and aid workers.

“A full and comprehensive ceasefire must be implemented immediately.”

Tensions within the camps for the region’s two million displaced people have steadily risen due to opposition to the peace agreement.

Rebel movements have split into numerous factions and widespread popular demonstrations against the agreement have been held within camps.

Violence is increasingly quick to break out between militias, rebel groups and government forces, putting aid workers who are delivering vital services at risk.

In the last month, more than 25,000 people have fled their homes in north Darfur in the face of fighting and attacks on their villages.

Three-and-a-half million people throughout the country are dependent on humanitarian aid.