Three Attacks on International Humanitarian Organisations in Darfur in Three Days

On Saturday 24th of August the offices of the American Refugee Committee (ARC), in Nyala were attacked and looted by armed men.

On Monday 26th August in the early morning, guest houses used by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and their warehouses in Nyala were attacked and looted by armed men. ICRC staff were beaten and personal property was confiscated.

On Monday 26th of August an ICRC convoy travelling from Zalingei in Central Darfur to Nertiti, was stopped in Khor Ramla by armed men. Four staff members were abducted and two vehicles were hijacked. All the personal property of the ICRC staff was stolen. The staff members were released on the evening of Tuesday 27th August but the vehicles and other looted materials were not returned.

Recommendations:

SUDO(UK) calls for an end to attacks on humanitarian workers who should be protected and respected by all parties in Darfur.

SUDO(UK) calls for the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to exercise its reponsibilties and protect humanitarian workers and civilians in Darfur.

The UNAMID Mandate sets out:
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council, by its resolution 1769  of 31 July 2007 decided that UNAMID is authorized to take the necessary action, in the areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities in order to:

1. protect its personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its own personnel and humanitarian workers;
2. support early and effective implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, prevent the disruption of its implementation and armed attacks, and protect civilians, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Sudan.

http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unamid/mandate.shtml