UN to evacuate some staff from Sudan’s Darfur region

Oct 13, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations is to evacuate some staff from Sudan’s West Darfur state because of an increase in violence, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.

“It’s a precautionary measure because of the violence. Just in case one would need an evacuation, you’d have fewer people to evacuate,” said U.N. spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said.

It was not clear how many staff would be evacuated.

Aid workers were already confined to the main town as all roads have been closed to travel because of banditry and clashes throughout the state, she said.

U.N. officials said on Wednesday the violence had hindered aid access to around 650,000 refugees in South and West Darfur states.

British aid agency Oxfam said it could not access any of its West Darfur camps by road and were concerned fuel for water pumps could run out, leaving tens of thousands of refugees without access to water.

Non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing Khartoum of neglect and of monopolising power and wealth.

Khartoum responded by mobilising mostly Arab militias, who stand accused of a campaign of rape, killing and looting in non-Arab villages.

Tens of thousands have been killed and more than 2 million forced from their homes in the Darfur violence, which the United States called genocide.

Khartoum denies genocide but the International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes there.

(Reuters)