Darfur’s despair
Editorial, The Independent
Dec 23, 2004 — The deliberate targeting of aid workers, seemingly by the Sudanese government, has plunged the situation in Darfur to a terrible new low.
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has revealed that Sudanese government troops shot dead one of their workers during an assault on the town of Labado. Other aid organizations also have found themselves targeted. Save the Children pulled out its 350 staff earlier this week after four of its workers were killed. It is an open question as to how long aid organizations can continue to operate in Darfur under these circumstances.
The world’s democratic governments have a duty to hold the Sudanese administration to account for the targeting of aid workers and to ensure that no further such attacks occur. The vehicles and attire of aid workers are always clearly marked. Confusion is not a plausible excuse.
And the United Nations Security Council finally must make good on its threats to punish the regime for its abject failure to bring to an end the attacks on Darfur’s non-Arab population. The U.S. envoy to the council believes that formerly obstructive members — Algeria, China and Pakistan — are demonstrating a new willingness to consider sanctions. If so, this presents an ideal opportunity for the United Nations to impose its will.
The deployment of the African Union mission in the region also needs to be speeded up. At present, the African Union has 1,000 soldiers and 100 observers in Darfur. The full quota of 3,000 must be reached as soon as possible. The more independent troops there are on the ground, the more difficult it will be for the Sudanese government and its proxies, the Janjaweed militia, to terrorize the local population.
The targeting of aid workers means that time is even more pressing than it previously was in Darfur. The 2 million people who have been forced from their homes into makeshift camps in the desert simply cannot wait for a comprehensive political settlement. Disease and famine have killed 70,000 people since March. They need help and provisions now.
One thing is certain. If international aid organizations are forced to leave, the result will be a fresh catastrophe for the people of Darfur.