UNICEF is racing with Autumn to rescue the people of Darfour
Sudan, Politics, 6/17/2004

The United Nations Children Organization UNICEF has warned against a humanitarian crisis with the beginning of the rainfall season in Darfour area to the west of Sudan which has been witnessing tension since one year.

UNICEF's director Carol Belamy said in Khartoum that a " race against time " started in the region to ensure basic services to children and their families like waters, food, shelter and providing health and medical care. In a press conference held on Tuesday after she had a tour in Darfour, Belamy indicated that the crisis is escalated in the region and that " all efforts should be made to avoid a humanitarian crisis." However, UNICEF figures indicate that almost half million children are threatened because of the malnutrition and diseases in Darfour.

Belamy announced on Sunday following a tour on camps of the Sudanese refugees close to Neyala to the south of Darfour that she will ask the donor sides of more financial resources in order to withstand the humanitarian crisis in Darfour, where she says that the number of displaced is increasing with the continued acts of violence against the population.

On the other hand, the UNHCR on Tuesday appealed for collecting USD 55.8 million as extra money to provide urgent aid for Darfour refugees who are flowing to Chad.

In February, UNHCR appealed for collecting USD 20.8 million to help 110,000 persons and so far it received USD 18.4 million.

In a statement the UNHCR said that number of persons who fled to Chad because of the conflict in Darfour might reach 200,000 by the fall of the end of the year.

Worthy mentioning that the conflict erupted in the almost dry Darfour area in confrontation of the central authority which they had accused of neglecting their area and not providing necessary resources for its development.

Un sources said that the conflict between the government and the rebels in Darfour resulted in killing 10,000 persons as well as the displacement of one million and 150,000 refugees in neighboring Chad.

Previous Stories:
  Sudanese Parliament approves four freedoms agreement with Egypt   (6/16/2004)
  Sudanese official: the peace agreement will not break the Salvation Movement   (6/16/2004)
  Washington accuses Khartoum of obstructing Darfour relief aid   (6/15/2004)

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