Darfur Peace and Development

March 23, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The United States once again urged the Sudanese government to swiftly address humanitarian needs resulted from the eviction of some 13 aid groups from Darfur region, saying it would be held accountable for each death there.

U.S. Charge d’Affaires Alberto Fernandez speaks to newly-arrived IDPs at Zam Zam camp (Photo US embassy)

Robert Wood, the acting spokesperson of the State Department on Monday urged the Sudanese government to address water, land and other urgent issues at Zam Zam camp, and other camps in the region before further deterioration.

He pointed out that there is a growing water shortage due to demand created by the recent IDP arrivals and the lack of available water resources at the camp. Further he underscored the need for more land to accommodate the IDPs overflow.

The official was commenting a visit by the American Chargé d’affaires Alberto Fernandez to Zam Zam camp in North Darfur. The camp received some 36,000 new IDPs since last January following the increasing of violence and harassment in South Darfur since last January.

With the arrival of new IDPs in the Zam Zam camp the total in its residents reached 80,000. The majority of the newcomers are from villages and IDP camps in South Darfur, but there are also arrivals from North Darfur.

Wood said the situation in the camp had been exacerbated by the expulsion of 13 major aid groups working in Darfur.

Last Tuesday March 17, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton strongly condemned the eviction of the aid groups. It also harshly criticized the Sudanese President saying he would be held responsible for any deaths in Darfur that results from his decisions.

In apparent reaction to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him for crimes against Humanity and war crimes, Bashir ordered on 4 and 5 March the eviction of 13 foreign NGOs and closed three other national groups.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 2.7 million have been displaced in the western region of Sudan, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen since 2003.

(ST)