Sudan: UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan calls for Assistance and Protection of Civilians in West Darfur

Khartoum 24 February 2008:  The Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) for Sudan Ameerah Haq recently returned from a visit to West Darfur where she and representatives of UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and WHO as well as OCHA assessed first hand the humanitarian situation on the ground. The United Nations in Sudan is extremely anxious about the precarious situation facing civilians as a result of increased hostilities between the rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Government of Sudan forces.

The recent attacks on Saraf Jedad (24 January), Bir Dagig and Konddobe (8-9February), Abu Sourouj, Sirba and Selea (8 February), in the north and north-western areas of West Darfur left dozens of civilians dead, many more injured and up to 58,000 affected. The attack on Aro Sharow (15 February) witnessed up to 5000 residents fleeing for safety to the Jebel Moun area.

Ms. Haq and her team met civilians who described the attacks, showed the UN team their burnt houses and pleaded for urgent security and protection.

'We are very concerned about communities like Sirba where civilians are completely exposed' said Ameerah Haq. We are particularly worried for a number of unaccounted children and are eager to speed up the tracing process as well as ensuring that an effective protection mechanism is in place,' added Ms. Haq, after speaking with a mother of seven whose six children remain missing. We are also disturbed by reports of incidents of sexual violence against women and girls; but independent confirmation has not been possible.'

'The message that villagers want relayed is one of security and protection. They want protection, they urgently need to feel safe and secure and after five years of conflict they are simply losing all hope in our ability to keep them safe. As more civilians return to Sirba it is expedient that we can deliver on protecting them before they lose all faith.'

The United Nations Country Team in Sudan and NGO partners have carried out eight humanitarian assessments and provided emergency aid including food supplies from WFP, blankets, plastic sheeting, jerrycans, emergency medicines and medical supplies, and are working to repair and restore water supplies where needed. However, due to ongoing fighting particularly in the Jebel Moun area, humanitarian agencies have been unable to access populations in dire need of assistance. In many areas there is an urgent need for shelter and non-food items with hundreds of homes destroyed, while food assistance has still to reach 26,000 people.

In response to reports of children left unaccounted for after the attacks and the subsequent massive displacement of families, community leaders are working with UNICEF and partners to cross-check reports of missing children with families who have returned to their home areas. Similar verifications are being undertaken in accessible areas where displaced populations have gathered.

UN teams will continue to carry out assessments to areas in West Darfur, where they have access, to ascertain the damage and immediate needs of the affected population. The clearance of flights to Sirba and Selea will further enhance the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected populations.

It is vital at this time that humanitarians have unimpeded access to populations currently exposed to ongoing hostilities so as to deliver the necessary humanitarian assistance. All parties to the conflict are reminded of their responsibilities under International Humanitarian Law to protect civilians and to differentiate between civilian and military targets.

For more information contact: Orla Clinton, RC/HC Spokesperson, 249 912174454, clinton@un.org