As the level of violence increases in Darfur, it is becoming more dangerous for humanitarian aid workers as well. Aid agencies in Darfur include SUDO (Sudan Development Organization), World Vision, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Oxfam International, among others. Since May 2006, however, there have been at least 23 incidents causing aid organizations to withdraw from Darfur; twelve such incidents ended with aid organizations permanently withdrawing workers from the region. Oxfam International announced in December that over one-third of Darfur is inaccessible to aid workers and humanitarian agencies.
Eric Reeves, a Darfur analyst in Massachusetts, writes, "If humanitarian organizations do withdraw entirely, or are continually more restricted in their movements, there will be no witnesses to the next act of genocidal destructions: the assault upon or bulldozing of Darfur's camps for the displaced" (www.sudanreeves.org/Article143.html). Furthermore, the refugees living in the camps will have no one to depend upon for medical care, etc. if the aid agencies are forced to leave.
More information and press releases can be found at www.oxfam.org.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment