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Home > About Us > Latest News > Darfur: New Violence Puts Millions at Risk, Forces Aid Withdrawals

Darfur: New Violence Puts Millions at Risk, Forces Aid Withdrawals

Six agencies demand immediate ceasefire, following 250 aid worker evacuations this month.

December 18, 2006

World Vision's Child-Friendly Spaces in war-torn South Darfur's IDP camps represent a refuge of healing and tranquility for the region's children, including Zuha, 8, who visits the Dereig camp's center every day where she loves to sing. Safe havens such as these are in jeopardy since the IDP camps, previously the last source of refuge for many civilians, are increasingly rife with weapons and armed groups.

Increasing military activity, banditry, and direct violence against aid workers in Darfur means nearly half a million people now have limited access to humanitarian assistance.

Because of escalating violence, 250 humanitarian workers — serving an estimated 480,000 people in key locations across Darfur — have been temporarily evacuated this month.

Aid Access Lowest Since Mid-2004

Aid workers are facing unprecedented difficulties at a time when humanitarian needs are rising quickly. In response, World Vision, along with five other leading international aid agencies working in the conflict-stricken region — Concern Worldwide, Goal, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Refugee Council, and Oxfam International — issued a joint statement last week:

"All parties must urgently agree — and maintain — a ceasefire with immediate effect. They must ensure that aid workers are able to reach people in need."

Significant Staff Withdrawals

Although hopefully a temporary measure, aid worker evacuations are becoming more frequent, restricting the massive humanitarian response in a region where nearly four million people are now dependent on aid agencies for essential services such as food, water, and healthcare.

With access to people in need already at its lowest point since mid-2004, several large areas in Darfur have suffered significant withdrawals of aid workers in the first week of December alone:

El Fasher and Kutum in North Darfur
El Daein and Shearia in South Darfur
Kulbus in West Darfur

In the Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs)in South Darfur, which shelters 90,000 people and where World Vision provides desperately-needed food aid, agencies are losing one day’s work a week, on average, because of rising violence inside the camp.

Darfur: More Than 30 Percent Without Aid

The UN’s most recent figures of humanitarian access levels in Darfur show more than a third of Darfur is effectively out of bounds to aid agencies; evacuations and new violence in December mean access levels are now even lower.

Since the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement last May, violence against civilians and aid workers has increased and an estimated 200,000 or more newly displaced people have arrived in Darfur’s IDP camps.

Civilians' Suffering Two-Fold

Civilians are suffering doubly — either caught up directly by the violence, or because aid agencies are prevented from providing essential services.

"We have no blankets, no plastic sheeting for shelters, and no security," said one man recently arrived in Otash IDP camp, which World Vision serves in South Darfur.

Since 2004, World Vision has provided humanitarian aid to this war-wracked region, offering emergency food to 300,000 IDPs in more than 20 camps and conflict-affected areas in South Darfur state, as well as interventions in water and sanitation, agriculture, health, nutrition, and education.

Learn More

>> Read more about how increasing violence in Darfur is hindering humanitarian delivery efforts and forcing evacuations of aid personnel.

Get Involved

>> Pray for Sudan’s millions of displaced persons who are suffering, especially for the children; the most vulnerable to the violence that continues to plague war-torn Darfur.
>>

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Who Is World Vision?
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Learn More

Read more about how increasing violence in Darfur is hindering humanitarian delivery efforts and forcing evacuations of aid personnel.

Get Involved

Pray for Sudan’s millions of displaced persons who are suffering, especially for the children; the most vulnerable to the violence that continues to plague war-torn Darfur.
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