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Darfur Humanitarian Emergency
Total FY 2005 USG Humanitarian Assistance for the Darfur Emergency (to date): $509,532,362
Total FY 2003 – 2005 USG Humanitarian Assistance for the Darfur Emergency: $767,978,042
Fact Sheet #53 (PDF - 131 kb)
Map of Ongoing U.S. Government Programs (PDF - 251 kb)
Current Humanitarian Situation
Security
- UNHCR reported that on September 29, 250 to 300 armed Arab men riding horses and camels
attacked Aro Sharow IDP camp, West Darfur, killing 29 people and causing most of the camp’s
4,000 to 5,000 residents to flee into the countryside. According to UNHCR, the armed men
burned more than 80 shelters in the camp, located 16 km north of Seleia town in Kulbus.
UNHCR officials reported that the Aro Sharow attack was the first large-scale assault on a
Darfur IDP camp. U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland
condemned the attack and blamed all parties to the Darfur conflict for the increasing number of
attacks targeting humanitarian workers in recent weeks. Egeland stated that the U.N. may cease
operations in Darfur if the security situation continues to deteriorate.
- According to the U.N. Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), on September 29, U.N.
Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) representatives were conducting an assessment in Tawila, North
Darfur, where Government of Sudan (GOS) soldiers entered the marketplace and opened fire.
UNMIS reported that unknown elements returned fire and shooting continued for approximately
45 minutes. The UNMIS representatives took refuge at a nearby African Union Mission in
Sudan (AMIS) compound. Later in the day, shooting erupted again and lasted for an
unconfirmed period of time. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) immediately evacuated
the town, and UNDSS declared Tawila town and the road connecting El Fasher and Tawila "nogo"
for U.N. agencies. An interagency team traveled to the area on September 30 to assess
the situation and immediate humanitarian needs.
- Three NGOs evacuated staff from Shangil Tobayi, North Darfur, on September 25, leaving the
town without an international humanitarian presence. One NGO reported an increased presence
of GOS forces around the town, and another reported that residents were closing shops at midday
and appeared to be preparing to leave the town. However, AMIS reported the situation to
be calm as of September 25, except for isolated banditry incidents.
Kalma Camp
- The security situation has worsened in Kalma camp in recent days, with IDPs holding
demonstrations to protest not receiving registration cards or food rations after arriving several
months ago. On September 26 and 27, several hundred women and children IDPs
Darfur Humanitarian Emergency – September 30, 2005
demonstrated, in one case blocking the entrance to the AMIS Civilian Police compound, and in
another case congregating peacefully outside an NGO compound. On September 27, one
international NGO evacuated and announced a temporary halt to operations in Kalma camp.
- GOS officials still have not decided whether to reinstate the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
as camp coordinator, after NRC’s term expired on August 22. OCHA and UNMIS plan to
discuss an interim solution with NGO representatives and several hundred sheiks on October 1,
with NRC staff participating as technical advisors during the meeting.
New Arrivals in North Darfur Camps
- According to OCHA, on September 24, an inter-agency team conducted a third assessment in
Tawila, Gallap, and Thabit, following the September 18 attacks on 10 North Darfur villages.
OCHA reported that approximately 4,000 new IDPs had arrived in Dali camp, near the town of
Tawila, since the attacks. On September 24, humanitarian agencies distributed food to 600
households and relief supplies to 400 households in Dali. Additional distributions are scheduled
for the coming days, pending WFP verification of the list of new IDPs. The U.N. Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) has rehabilitated a water point to serve the newly arrived IDPs, but OCHA
reported that additional latrines are needed. Gallap was less affected, as nearly all families who
arrived following the attacks had already returned to their villages or moved on to Zam Zam
camp. The assessment team found the Thabit area completely deserted, and was uncertain
whether or not this was a result of the attacks.
- Between September 27 and 28, Zam Zam camp in North Darfur received more than 7,000 new
IDPs and lacks sufficient space to accommodate all those wishing to remain in the camp. The
Spanish Red Cross recently met with Zam Zam’s landowner about extending the camp’s
boundaries. The surrounding land is currently used for cultivation, but the landowner may be
able to allocate more land for the camp once crops have been harvested in October. In order to
expand the camp, the GOS must approve the expansion and compensate the landowner.
- The GOS Office of Water and Sanitation (WES) reported drilling 3 new boreholes, constructing
10 communal latrines, and rehabilitating 17 latrines in response to the increasing population in
Zam Zam camp. GOS WES has also carried out activities addressing hygiene promotion, water
chlorination, and water container sanitation. In addition, the Sudan Social Development
Organization (SUDO), a local NGO, plans to construct 250 latrines and install 3 hand pumps.
Returns
- OCHA has reported preliminary results of the interagency assessment of Joghana and the area
north of Al Deain, South Darfur. In more than 20 villages the assessment team visited, there
were no signs of permanent IDP returns to the area. In some cases families had returned to
harvest crops, but were planning on returning to IDP camps. The assessment team reported that
nomads grazing cattle in the area contributed to a sense of insecurity. Of the people
interviewed, none reported participation in the GOS-backed reconciliation process that the GOS
claims is taking place in the area. In the majority of villages assessed, security was reported to
be the top concern.
Water and Sanitation
- Tearfund recently reported a growing problem with the water supply in Adilla, east of Al Deain,
South Darfur. When purchased in the area, a container of water costs 300 Sudanese Dinars
(SD), a price significantly higher than the 25 SD charged for the same quantity of water in
Nyala. Tearfund’s staff members observed people drinking from surface water and reported
concern about the potential consequences of a water shortage. Tearfund does not carry out
water and sanitation activities, but reported that area wells needed repairs.
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