Humanitarian aid in Sudan limited by insecurity, road closures, says UN mission

Insecurity and transport restrictions are hampering the delivery and distribution of humanitarian relief to the massive population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the strife-torn Darfur region, the United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) reported today.

IDPs also say they are being harassed and intimidated by police or local authorities to return to their home villages or to explain their relationship with rebel groups in Darfur, the scene of a deadly conflict since early last year.

More than 1.45 million IDPs live in Darfur and another 200,000 people have fled to neighbouring Chad as refugees because of attacks by militias and fighting between two rebel groups and Sudanese Government forces.

Meanwhile, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York that the operations of humanitarian agencies in North Darfur State have become limited because some roads remain closed to them. Other areas have become dangerous for transporting aid supplies. Last Saturday, forces from the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) hijacked seven commercial trucks on a road about 120 kilometres east of the state capital El Fasher.

In West Darfur and South Darfur States, UNAMIS said IDPs are harassed by police about their links to the SLA, one of the two rebel groups. Many IDPs are also pressured to return home.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also reports that it has completed its polio vaccination scheme in West Darfur and reached more than 90 per cent of the target population in North Darfur.

But another survey it conducted indicates that 22 per cent of children five and under in Darfur are malnourished and nearly half of all families do not have enough food to eat.