World

Darfur fears of crisis as aid agencies leave the region

by Amy Judd | March 5, 2009 at 10:00 pm

210 views | 41 Recommendations | 11 comments

Sudan's president Omar al Bashir has been issued with an international arrest warrant, and so has expelled aid groups from the Darfur region. Today no aid workers showed up to the Zamzam Camp leaving refugees to try and figure out how they are going to get water and food and help the new refugees arriving every day.

"We are very concerned," said Ibrahim Safi, 34, one of 75,000 residents at the camp. "After God, we only have the organizations."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that Sudan's expulsion of 13 major aid organizations will cause "irrevocable damage" to humanitarian operations in Darfur and called on the government to urgently reconsider its decision.

According to the UN, aid agencies in Darfur are responsible for at least half of the humanitarian operations int he country and they help deliver food, water, health care and education services. When these NGOs are gone, 1.1 million people will be left with no food, water, or aid.
Omar al Bashir has accused the UN and the ICC of being part of 'colonialism' that works to destabilize the country, and has said that the aid agencies were trying to profit from what was happening in Darfur.
The NGOs include CARE International, Oxfam GB and Mercy Corps.

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Pythiian1

at 22:14 on March 5th, 2009

Thank you, Amy, for picking up this story when Mr. Bashir ordered all NGOs to leave Sudan as his retaliation to the international court's decision.

It's really a crime against humanity.

Paschen

at 22:14 on March 5th, 2009

Well, I know Japan has called back all NGO workers from that area. Te fear is real and the UN needs to step in, however the UN will be blocked by Veto member China. Why we have to get rid of the veto right. If it is not the US vetoing then it is China and the UN gets blamed in the end.

Keith Ranville

at 23:38 on March 5th, 2009

Hy Amy' How can I get me readers more involved; and with me so I am so involved in a need to give, to my fellow man & woman and child..

Amitjha

at 00:58 on March 6th, 2009

The Janjaweed's are going to eliminate the whole population, this power struggle is really worst example.

Fripouille

at 06:00 on March 6th, 2009

This is really bad news. As if things weren't bad enough already.....

kuuva

at 11:35 on March 6th, 2009

why expel the aid groups, it does not make sense.

sh (not verified)

at 17:10 on April 20th, 2009

because it he dose what is not right

Keith Ranville

at 11:40 on March 6th, 2009

I just bet if there was oil involved there would be more aid!

Tamiya

at 06:44 on March 7th, 2009

More than 100,000 lives so far in Darfur.

When the arrest warrant issued by ICC, who carries out the order ? or is the warrant just in paper?

Fripouille

at 06:50 on March 7th, 2009

The short answer is both.

Signatory members are obliged to arrest ICC-condemned individuals when they go to their countries, and peacekeeping forces are supposed to do the same. That said, many a blind eye has been turned to these rules for political reasons, notably in ex -Yugoslavia for example.....

Barry Artiste

at 08:05 on March 7th, 2009

Certainly does not make sense to starve a populace to make a political point to the UN.

I think it is time for the people of this country to grow some Testicles and take out the trash once and for all. Otherwise we will be just be throwing money at a problem that will never ever go away.