Sudan: Humanitarian efforts in Darfur jeopardized by aid worker deaths

(Khartoum and New York: 7 August 2006): Escalating violence in Darfur has killed more aid workers in the last two weeks than in the past two years and is now seriously jeopardizing the humanitarian mission in the area, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Humanitarian access is at its lowest level since the Darfur operation began and operational risks for aid workers are increasing by the day. A total of eight humanitarian workers died while on duty in July. At the same time, the violence is also impacting on local populations, deepening the humanitarian crisis.

"The level of violence being faced by humanitarian workers in Darfur is unprecedented. Many of the attacks happened while workers were helping suffering populations," said Manuel da Silva, Humanitarian Co-ordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Sudan. "This is completely unacceptable. All sides must respect the neutrality of humanitarian workers. If this situation continues, we risk losing all that we have gained over the past year."

In addition to the deaths, increases have also been recorded in hijackings of NGO vehicles, attacks on cars during which they were looted, and attempted ambushes. These attacks include vehicles stolen during food distributions, theft from NGO compounds and one attack on an ambulance.

As a result of these incidents, many staff of Sudanese nationality working for international non-governmental organizations (NGO) and the United Nations now fear for their safety if they enter camps and in some cases are reluctant to do so.

The Humanitarian Coordinator is also concerned at the impact the increased violence is having on local populations who have already suffered so much. "The situation is made even more serious by the fact that the need for humanitarian assistance is increasing while our ability to respond is being ever more restricted," said Mr. da Silva.

The United Nations remains committed to the provision of humanitarian aid to all in need, irrespective of ethnicity, gender or political affiliation and will do its best to continue the vital work that is being done in Darfur and the rest of Sudan.

For further information, please call: Imogen Wall, OCHA-Sudan, +249 912 306 509; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.