LETTER FROM THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DARFUR EMERGENCY
Over the last two months, one of the most common questions I have been asked is: "Is Darfur still the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today". On several occasions, I have been lost for words to respond. It seems that reports on the progress of aid programmes have been relatively positive and has led some to believe, mistakenly, that the crisis is over or that people are recovering in Darfur from a conflict that has long since passed. But one must not equate meeting the daily needs of an incredibly insecure, fragile and dependant population with resolution of a national crisis, or with the return of peace to this war-torn region. We must also not confuse the progress in the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement with a political solution inDarfur.
It is true, over the past year there has been an enormous mobilization through the donor, UN and NGO communities. There are now over 10,000 humanitarian staff in Darfur, and over 900 of them are international. These dedicated persons have worked miracles under harsh and often insecure conditions. For its part, UNICEF has played a key role in ensuring safe water coverage for 1.5 million people and sanitation services for 1.2 million. We have also supported programmes that have ensured measles immunization for 2.35 million children and polio protection for over 1.4. We support 186 primary health care facilities and 44 Therapeutic Feeding Centres that treat malnourished children. Most remarkably, we have helped to put some 263,000 children to school in IDP and host communities and provided psycho-social support for over 105,000 children through various programmes.
These are awesome achievements considering the challenges faced ... but they are misleading for they are still insufficient. Let us not forget that even if there were a political solution to the conflict tonight, the basic needs of these communities would still not be met and children would continue to die from preventable disease. Mortality figures are controversial but looking forward, it is clear that there is a 45% (1.23 million person) gap in water coverage and we are experiencing shortages due to ground water depletion. Some 30% (580,000) of people do not have adequate sanitation services at the approach of the rainy season. Around 34% (918,000) of children still can not access a primary health care facility as Darfur enters the peak months for malaria and measles. Food stocks are depleting. Many livelihoods are lost. It is true that large numbers of children are in school, but because the conflict has pushed families from their land, approximately 350,000 more can attend. Education not only provides structure, normalcy and empowerment for youth but prevents destitution and recruitment into fighting forces.
These gaps are real and significant and they could even widen -since the conflict persists and people continue to flee violent attack and endemic insecurity in rural areas. Although outright hostilities decreased this month, conflict between rebel groups increased-while attacks on civilians, primarily women and girls, both in and outside camps, remain at unacceptable levels. Meanwhile, harassment, detention and ambush of humanitarian aid convoys continues.
It should also be remembered that our modest live-saving achievements have little to do with addressing the long-term needs of displaced communities for security, return and rehabilitation of home villages and rural economies. Darfur has suffered unprecedented social collapse. Emergency relief can not be compared with sustainable development and stable governance which could address the systemic issues necessary for peace-building and recovery.
Is Darfur still relevant ? Is it still the world's worst humanitarian disaster ? It probably is, but why do we need to rank an emergency? It is necessary only to respond.
Keith McKenzie
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IMPACTING HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Political Developments
The Secretary-General visited the Sudan region this period and began his trip with a conference in Addis Ababa, which he co-chaired with the AU to mobilize donor support for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Nearly $300 million was pledged. AMIS, initially established to monitor adherence to the April 2004 Ceasefire, has been increased in strength and expanded in mandate. The mission will now have a more protective role in relation to both civilians and humanitarian actors, while the total forces are expected to rise to 6,171 military personnel, including up to 1,560 civilian police, by the end of September 2005.
In Darfur the SG, accompanied by the SRSG, visited Nyala town, Kalma Camp and Labado. In Khartoum he met with First Vice President Taha and discussed the resumption of political talks in Abuja. Unfortunately, disagreements over which countries should assist in the mediation process, and the proposed agenda have delayed the renewal of the process in Nigeria. Sudanese representatives, the SLM/A and JEM held a brief meeting in Abuja this week however, which appears to indicate some agreement to resume.
On the local front, the tribal-based reconciliation process is experiencing some limited success in expanding its support base in South Darfur although it remains to be seen how this initiative will impact the security situation and the larger peace efforts in Abuja. On 3 June, the Government of South Darfur organized the closing session/ceremony of the 17th tribal reconciliation conference, attended by the Federal Minister of Home Affairs, the Secretary General of the Arab League, the UNSRSG to Sudan and the Egyptian Ambassador to Sudan. Agreements were signed between the Massalit tribe and the Hubaneeya tribe; the Rezaigat and Turgum tribes and 8 of the tribes that live in the Sheairreeya Locality (altogether, they are around 32). By the end of June 2005, the participants (including government) hope to bring about an institutionalized reconciliation between all the tribes in South Darfur. To facilitate the process, significant resources were pledged for rehabilitation in conflict affected areas and expansion of services for nomads.
In other developments, the ICC has formally launched its investigation into suspected war crimes in Darfur, despite GoS insistence that UN resolutions can be carried out within the national justice system.
Security Concerns
There has been a decline in outright hostilities between the GoS, aligned militias and the SLA/JEM forces this period but the GoS claims to have been ambushed several times on the Tawilla -Kebkabiya road, with "many" casualties. A formal complaint was submitted by the GoS to the AU in North Darfur on 26 May. While confrontations with GoS were limited, fighting between the JEM and SLA broke out, calling into question their fragile alliance. On 3 June at Gereida (100 km south of Nyala) SLA attacked JEM positions with artillery. JEM reported 6 killed and many wounded. According to the AU, JEM are now leaving the region and SLA are taking control while IDPs are fleeing the area. Some 11 villagers of the same family were killed as a rogue shell landed in their village, inspiring further displacement. A GoS military convoy is headed to Gareida as a precautionary measure. Also, on 28 May firing between rebel groups was reported in the Muhajeria region and five people, including a three-year old child sustained bullet wounds.
Security in several camps is also becoming a growing concern. Fighting broke out on the evening of 19 May between Kalma Camp police and IDPs in the market place area. Scores of camp residents, armed with sticks, knives and machetes damaged and/or destroyed several buildings including the HAC Office, the health facility of the SRC and the premises of the Sudanese Red Crescent. The child-friendly space under support of CDF was also looted. In the aftermath, two committees were formed to speed relocation activities and to address security issues. GoS authorities have since closed Kalma to all private/commercial vehicles and convoys. This decision has had a serious impact on the availability of goods in the camp, impacting not only merchants but the well-being of camp residents. OCHA has been negotiating with authorities to end the ban but discussions are ongoing.
In West Darfur meanwhile, several camps around the Geneina areas have been opposing the WFP and IOM led registration exercise, which will most likely result in a more equitable distribution of general food rations. As a result, GFD was temporarily suspended. In Kirindig II sheiks mobilized the community to refuse all humanitarian entry and aid until general food distribution resumed, this included blocking entry and threatening UNICEF supported vaccination teams during the Polio National Immunization Days. WFP decided to resume food distribution but is circulating pamphlets explaining that future rations depend on compliance with the registration exercise. Meanwhile, clashes this period between IDPs and GoS police in Zam Zam left one IDP dead and six injured.
As in previous months, road insecurity continues to pose obstacles for distribution of supplies, monitoring and implementation of programmes. Banditry, ambush and looting of commercial convoys rose marginally this period. Several incidents of armed robbery of communications equipment and personal belongings were reported by INGO/NGO staff. Direct targeting of humanitarian vehicles is suspected in several cases and has been noted by OCHA as "unprecedented and a development of utmost concern".
Detentions of humanitarian workers by non-state entities also continued to pose complications and delays. On 31 May, WHO teams conducting the morality and morbidity survey close to Nyala were detained and later released, thus frustrating their exercise. On 1st June near Thabit (close to El Fasher) a 32 vehicle INGO/UN vehicle convoy was stopped and detained by SLA for several hours. Liaison with SLM HAC officials released the convoy but only to return to El Fasher. The following day it was allowed to travel to the intended destination.
In addition to direct security threats from armed elements, NGOs remain sensitive about interaction with GoS and the GoS HAC. In response to the release of the MSF Holland report on the incidence and treatment of rape in Darfur, the head of mission in Sudan was arrested and charged with spreading false information. A day later, a Dutch worker with the group, was also arrested. Both men were later released on bail but charges remain pending.
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