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| Photo credit: USAID |
The
humanitarian situation in the Darfur region has been focus of much attention by
both the national and international community and has prompted a number of
reactions as the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and
the United States call for greater and more facilitated access to humanitarian
aid to those affected by the fighting.
UNAMID called
for better access to tens of thousands of people displaced by recent
inter-tribal fighting over gold-mining areas in North Darfur State, while
ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces in Jebel Marra poses an
obstacle to aid delivery.
Although
both sides in the fighting deny placing restrictions and expressed willingness
to cooperate with UN agencies to deliver food to the needy, the United Nations
has repeatedly complained about poor access to conflict zones in Darfur.
In
statements to “IRIN”, UNMAID urged all parties to allow it to
carry out its assigned mission, in this and other areas, in fulfillment of its
mandate to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid.
An official
governmental report estimates that 65,000 people have been affected. Education
has also been disrupted as the displaced took refugee in schools. Some insisted
on bringing their herds along, and there is concern over insufficient pasture
and health risks posed by these animals.
The
International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also reported that labor
migrants from neighbouring Chad were caught up in the fighting and forced to
flee back to their homes and to West Darfur State; the organization raised alarm
over 1,500 "destitute migrants" without shelter or assistance.
It goes
without saying that it is the responsibility of all belligerents to cooperate
with humanitarian agencies to allow full, unrestricted access. Only by being
granted full access will these agencies be able to conduct a comprehensive
assessment of their mission and gauge the exact scale of assistance to be
delivered to those in dire need.
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