UN denies withdrawal of aid workers from Darfur

Oct 19, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — A senior official of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Wednesday denied the allegations that the UN aid agencies would pull out of Darfur due to the worsening security in the region.

UN Deputy Representative for Sudan Amanuel Aranda Da Silva told a press conference here that the international humanitarian community is accustomed to work in severe circumstances in Darfur, therefore, is determined to continue its humanitarian mission there.

Nonetheless, he still expressed the UN anxiety over a deteriorating situation of security in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, saying that “the growing violence and attacks by armed groups from all conflicting sides of Darfur are hindering relief operations and reducing the international community’s ability to reach the needy people of the region.”

“Having access to the needy people has become more difficult in all Darfur states and all roads there could not be used because of the deterioration of security situation in the region,” he added.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over a million displaced in Darfur since the rebel groups took up arms against government forces in early 2003 for alleged neglection and discrimination.

(Xinhua/ST)