Sudan urges evacuated aid workers to return to Darfur
Dec 27, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese authorities urged the return to South Darfur refugee camps of the United Nations aid workers who were evacuated ten days ago after gunmen looted their compounds, the UNMIS news bulletin reported.
Sudanese authorities in South Darfur demanded the return of the UN aid worker and international NGOs to the largest refugee camp of Gereida. The UN officials agreed but they said they would conduct a security assessment mission before.
“The local authorities stated that they would like the international community to return to Gereida. The UN agreed that a security assessment will be conducted soon to see if conditions are suitable for the return of humanitarian workers.”
The emergency meeting was held in Gereida Tuesday 26 December between the Deputy Wali, local law enforcement agencies, UNMIS and UN Security to discuss the current tenuous security situation and lack of humanitarian access to the community.
The area is under the control of SLA/MM.
It was the largest single instance of an aid worker evacuation since the U.N. launched its large-scale humanitarian campaign in war-torn Darfur in 2004. Over the past year, worsening violence has made delivering vital aid to hundreds of thousands of residents difficult or impossible.
A group of over 20 gunmen raided several humanitarian compounds in the South Darfur refugee camp of Gereida late Monday 18 December, harassing staff and stealing vehicles, communication equipment and money, the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.
(ST)