Threats force UN to ground some Darfur aid copters
Dec 9, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations has grounded some aid flights and evacuated workers in parts of West Darfur State because of the escalating violence crippling humanitarian efforts in Sudan’s vast west, U.N. officials said on Friday.
Militias attacks have forced aid workers to evacuate, closed off roads, and sent 7,000 Darfuris from their homes in South Darfur and West Darfur, Radhia Achouri, a U.N. spokeswoman said.
“Our humanitarian efforts are being destroyed on the ground,” she said.
One of the world’s largest humanitarian aid operations is under way in Darfur, with more than 11,000 aid workers trying to feed, clothe and shelter the more than 2 million Darfuris who fled to miserable camps during almost three years of fighting.
A 6,000-strong African Union (AU) force deployed to monitor the violence secured a brief respite but recent months saw a return to insecurity.
Achouri said government forces and Darfur rebels have been fighting in West Darfur, and there have been joint army and militia attacks on villages in South Darfur.
The reports have not been confirmed by the AU.
In West Darfur there are also reports of Arab militias fighting each other as their traditional nomadic migratory paths have been blocked by the conflict and desertification has dried up many of the drinking holes for their animals.
Water points have been targeted, making it difficult for civilians to return home.
Meanwhile, all roads out of the West Darfur state capital el-Geneina have been closed to U.N. traffic.
Now many aid workers have been temporarily evacuated from two main areas of operations and a rebel renegade group is threatening helicopters, prompting the U.N. to ground its aircraft over their areas, U.N. officials said.
“Humanitarian access is worse than ever,” said U.N. worker Matthew Ryder in el-Geneina.
He said most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had withdrawn from the area of Masteri, south of the town and from the Kulbus and Jabel Moun areas where rebels and the government recently clashed.
Tens of thousands have been killed in the Darfur violence that broke out in February 2003.
The United Nations says Khartoum armed Arab proxy militias to fight the rebels who say they are marginalised by the central Arab-dominated government. The militias stand accused of a widespread campaign of rape, killing and looting, which the United States calls genocide.
The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes in Darfur.
(Reuters)