[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Civilian Populations Held Captive as Security Deteriorates in Darfur

Oxfam International (Boston)
PRESS RELEASE
November 4, 2004
Posted to the web November 4, 2004

More than a hundred thousand people are essentially being held captive by armed
militias in West Darfur, international aid agency Oxfam reports today. The
report comes as the UN Security Council meets today to consider a report by UN
envoy, Jan Pronk.
Oxfam teams recently visited areas of West Darfur where increased violence and
the presence of armed militias is preventing people from leaving their camps
and towns.
When women and girls venture beyond the perimeter of these settlements, they
are subjected to extreme forms of harassment and violence, including beating,
abduction and rape. When men leave the safety of the camps, they risk being
killed. Terrified people say that police and government soldiers have been
unable to protect them from these horrifying attacks.
“It is clear that the security situation has deteriorated in many areas,” says
Adrian McIntyre, spokesperson for Oxfam in Darfur. “The presence of militias
and other armed groups around towns in West Darfur not only poses direct and
daily threats to tens of thousands of displaced people who have sought shelter
there. Local residents are also living in fear of violent attacks. In one
particular town, villagers cannot venture even one kilometre beyond the edge of
the settlement to tend their crops for fear of being brutalised or killed.”
Over six months after the ceasefire, civilians throughout Darfur continue to be
targeted by organised militias and other armed groups. The end of the rainy
season is bringing renewed attacks on villages in West and South Darfur,
increased banditry and further fighting between Government of Sudan forces and
rebel groups.
“We welcome the announcement that thousands more African Union personnel will
be deployed to Darfur to monitor the ceasefire and protect civilians. But time
is running out. The desperate plight of people who are effectively imprisoned
in West Darfur shows the urgency of the situation. The new AU troops must be
deployed to these areas at once. There’s not a moment to lose,” says Caroline
Nursey, Oxfam’s Regional Director.
“We urge the international community to deliver their existing pledges
immediately and provide additional funding for increased logistical support,
communications equipment and transport to strengthen the ability of the AU
mission to stop the violence against civilians that continues throughout
Darfur,” says Nursey.

   

  =============================================================================
   Copyright © 2004 Oxfam International. All rights reserved. Distributed by
                    AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  =============================================================================