UN to empower Darfur displaced to produce food

June 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The humanitarian efforts in Darfur will focus on supporting local population to produce their food instead of aid distribution, said the UN humanitarian chief.

John Holmes, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, visited by the end of May Sudan and Chad where he inspected the humanitarian situation in the two countries. In his four day visit to Sudan he was in Darfur and southern Sudan.

Briefing the UN Security Council on Thursday 3 June about the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Holmes said the humanitarian community in Darfur will make efforts to shift focus from aid distribution to empower people to support themselves through investing in programmes such as agriculture and education.

He further said it is necessary to empower the millions of displaced persons to take care of themselves, even while they remained in camps, through the proper investments, so as to reduce the risk of dependency.

He underlined that the situation remains unchanged since his 2009 visit to Darfur shortly after the expulsion of 13 aid groups following the indictment of President Omer Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur.

Displacement, sporadic conflict, lack of access to affected population in some areas and the kidnapping of humanitarian workers continued to hinder humanitarian work in Darfur, he added.

Holmes further said the mechanisms set up with the Sudanese authorities to fill the gaps after the eviction of aid groups had not been functioning in recent months.
He said he discussed with government officials some problems, including difficulties in obtaining visas and permission to move around.

The United Nations estimates some 2.7 million people have been displaced in Darfur since the conflict broke out between the army and government militias against rebel groups in 2003.

(ST)