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27, Ch. des Crêts-de-Pregny, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva (Switzerland) Tel: 0041 22 747 00 89
Fax: 0041 22 747 00 38 E-mail: info@darfurcentre.ch Webpage http://www.darfurcentre.ch
Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
DRDC/PR/2007/01 Geneva, 03.01.2007
Assault against Humanitarian Workers in Darfur Continues
The Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC) pays special tribute to outgoing UN Secretary
General Mr. Kofi Annan for his efforts to end the armed conflict in Darfur. His dedication to ending this
tragic situation played a decisive role in persuading the government of Sudan (GoS) to accept the
deployment of a hybrid African Union–United Nations (AU-UN) military force in the region. Persuading
Sudan to accept the deployment of a hybrid force was reached under difficult conditions and surrounded
by continuous resistance and uncertainty. However, it represents a substantial step in the long way toward
arresting violence in the region, protecting civilians and ending the reign of terror and impunity that
characterised the conflict in Darfur. We call on GoS to fully respect its commitment to the implementation
of the three-phase plan for the deployment of a hybrid AU-UN force as endorsed by the Addis Ababa highlevel
Consultation on the situation in Darfur of 16th November 2006 and the Communiqué of the 66th
meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held in Abuja on 30th November 2006. For the sake of
peace in the Sudan, DRDC calls on GoS to demonstrate its commitment to ending violence in Darfur and
withdraw any reservation that it has placed on any phase of the AU-UN plan as stated in its letter to the
outgoing UN Secretary General of 23rd December 2006. Equally, DRDC calls on the international
community to extend generous human and material support to the planned hybrid AU-UN operation.
However, DRDC is gravely alarmed by the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in different parts of
Darfur. Renewed military operations including aerial bombardment of civilian areas during the last two
months have caused displacement of thousands of individuals. In yet another serious development violence
and insecurity have reached hitherto relatively peaceful urban areas. Civilians in the major towns of Darfur
such as El Fashir, El Ginnena, Nyala, Kutum, Zallengi and Maleit are no longer spared the Janjaweed
wrath. These major urban areas became the new scenes of wanton violence, killing of civilians, destruction
of property, looting, disorder and Janjaweed attacks, which have intensified since October 2006.
Violence and insecurity in Darfur as well as aggressive administrative measures introduced by GoS against
humanitarian organisations have had a serious impact on humanitarian relief work. It is to be appreciated
that many humanitarian relief agencies and aid workers are driven by courage to operate in Darfur under
dangerous conditions that are beyond internationally acceptable safety norms. In some areas of Darfur such
as Tawila in North Darfur and many parts of West Darfur State, all international aid agencies have already
evacuated their field stations or forced to relocate their staff. In the process they left behind countless IDPs
and other needy people without help. It is ironic that while violence and attacks generate more IDPs and
war-affected populations in Darfur, with the decreasing number of relief organisations, growing numbers
of needy people now compete for meagre life-saving relief material. Absence of relief agencies from
Darfur will also affect outflow of accurate information about the ongoing situation thus serves the strategy
of blackout in the region. This will inevitably increase the death toll among the IDPs and war-affected
populations. The current situation is a vivid reminder that the scorched-earth policy embraced by the
government and the Janjaweed since the beginning of the conflict in Darfur still continues in the region. It
is beholding upon the international community to find out an immediate end to this killing field.
It is to be reminded that violence and insecurity in Darfur have caused the death of at least eleven relief
workers between July and September 2006. In December 2006 alone about 400 aid workers had been
relocated because of insecurity in what is believed to be the largest monthly relocation of relief workers
since the humanitarian work started in Darfur in 2004. On 19th December 2006 armed gangs, largely
believed to be Janjaweed militiamen, simultaneously attacked the compounds of several aid organisations
in Gereida area, South Darfur State, in a government-controlled area under heavy army and Janjaweed
presence. They harassed the humanitarian staff, confiscated communication equipment, and stole vehicles,
money and personal belongings in what seems to be a closely coordinated military action. Two
international relief organisations Oxfam and Action Contre le Faim were forced to suspend their operations
in the region after they lost about 12 vehicles during the attack. That incident led to the immediate
relocation of 71 humanitarian workers thus depriving more than 130,000 IDPs and war-affected people in
the Gereida area from receiving adequate relief supplies. With the increase of violent attacks against aid
agencies’ compounds in urban areas in Darfur and the targeting of aid workers by militiamen it is expected
that more relief agencies will abandon the region in the coming months.
In a related incident the government of North Darfur State ordered the closure of the office run by the
national humanitarian organisation and DRDC partner Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) in
El Fashir with immediate effect as of 18th December 2006. SUDO’s humanitarian activities in all sectors of
North Darfur State were suspended for an unknown period. These activities include potable water supply
and sanitation, provision of shelter, education, health and nutrition centres as well as food distribution
units. Between 300,000 – 400,000 IDPs and war-affected people in Darfur benefit from these services. On
17th December 2006 Mr. Khalil M. Bakhiet Tukras, Director of SUDO’s office in El Fasher was
summoned by the security forces and questioned, among other things, about his involvement in planning
the celebration of the International Human Rights Day which was to be organised by the UN Mission in
Sudan (UNMIS) in El Fasher primary schools. The security forces finally banned this celebration. Mr.
Tukras and two other SUDO staff members – Mr. Gaffar El Khalifa and Mr. Mohamed Abaker – are being
subjected to daily summon by the security forces since 17th December 2006. Every day they spend several
hours in custody of the security forces in El Fashir. This measure severely disturbs the lives of these
persons. No specific charges were brought against SUDO’s staff members before courts of law.
The closure of SUDO’s office in North Darfur State is the latest government assault in a series of similar
incidents observed in Sudan since February 2006 when GoS enacted the Organization of Humanitarian and
Voluntary Work Act. This new act has been used to curtail the work of NGOs in the country and to harass
and intimidate their members with particular bearing on the work of national humanitarian organisations.
The act brings national NGOs under tight control of the executive and security forces. National NGOs in
Sudan are no longer independent in implementing their mandates or securing funding from donor agencies.
The targeting of relief workers and organisations by provocation of violence or enactment of repressive
measures appears to be a calculated attempt to force UN agencies and independent humanitarian relief
organisations out of the country and put an end to their relief activities in Darfur. Such a tendency would
eventually cause starvation among the IDPs and war-affected populations, force them to disperse from
their relatively secure large gatherings and eventually fall easy prey to the Janjaweed militiamen.
DRDC calls upon all parties to the conflict in Darfur in particular GoS and the Janjaweed militia groups to
stop targeting humanitarian relief organisations and workers. All parties to the conflict in Darfur are
obliged to ensure the safety and personal security of all relief workers throughout the Darfur region.
DRDC further calls on GoS to end its aggressive administrative policy towards national and international
humanitarian organisations and accord them all the necessary assistance. It should respect its previous
commitments to facilitate access to Darfur and enable relief organisations to carry their work without
hindrances or threats. DRDC calls on GoS to lift the ban on SUDO’s office in El Fasher and any other
humanitarian relief organisations and allow them to conduct their activities without interference. DRDC
also calls on the GoS to allow SUDO’s staff members to pursue their normal lives without disturbance.
Please send your letters of protest to the following government officials or to the nearest Sudanese
diplomatic mission in your region:
H.E. Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin H.E. Mr. Kosti Manebi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Humanitarian Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum (Sudan) P.O. Box , Khartoum, (Sudan)
Fax No.: 00249 183 77 72 65 and 183 77 93 83 Fax No.: 00249 183 78 96 75
H.E. Dr. Abdelmoniem Osman Mohamed Taha H. E. Dr. Ibrahim Mirgani Ibrahim
Rapporteur Permanent Representative
Advisory Council for Human Rights Mission of Sudan to the UN Office
PO Box 302, Khartoum (Sudan) Avenue Blanc 47
Fax No.: 00 249 183 77 08 83 1202 Geneva (Switzerland)
Fax No.: 00 41 22 731 26 56
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