Aid agencies in Sudan unable to reach war exiles

AID workers are getting less and less access to those in need in the war-torn Darfur region even as 50,000 people fled their homes amid a government offensive this month, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Sudan has warned.

Manuel Aranda Da Silva said the situation in Darfur had never been so bad for aid workers’ access since the start of the conflict that is believed to have killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million in the vast region of western Sudan.

The UN estimates 100,000 people have been displaced by violence since May, and Mr da Silva said half of those fled in September when the Sudanese army launched a major offensive against rebels in North Darfur province, one of three that make up the region.

UN agencies in the field estimate that hundreds of soldiers and rebels have been killed in the campaign. Mr da Silva also feared that indiscriminate aerial bombardments of villages hosting rebels could create more civilian casualties.

Aid organisations have been unable to operate in North Darfur, meaning they cannot deliver medical or food aid to some 350,000 in need.

Throughout Darfur, banditry is on the rise, as is violence between pro and anti-government tribes in the south, making regions there dangerous for relief agencies to work in, he added.

Top UN officials have warned that the recent peace agreement was “in a coma” and that aid workers would have to leave if security further deteriorates.

However, Mr da Silva said aid agencies and non-governmental organisations were committed to staying on.

Aid workers would only pull out if ordered to do so by the Sudanese government or if the level of violence renders any effort useless, he said.

The Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 when mainly ethnic African rebel groups, complaining of discrimination by the Arab-dominated government, launched their revolt. The government responded with an assault, and militias launched a campaign of violence against villagers.

Mr da Silva said there has recently been a strong increase in attacks on humanitarian groups, and that 11 aid workers had been killed over the past three months. More than 25 vehicles were stolen at gunpoint.

Rogue rebel chiefs who have resorted to looting have become the greatest danger to aid work, he added.