I just read this article from the UN News Service about the most recent attacks on humanitarian aid workers in Southern Darfur. (I would have posted it in links, but I'm not qutie sure how to do that.) According to the article, "attacks against the relief community have increased by 150 per cent in the past year". This was especially frightening to read not just because of the attacks themselves, but because such attacks might discourage organizations from sending further aid. What are people's thoughts on this?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200709271236.html
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And by Southern Darfur I mean South Darfur. Sorry I keep making these comment edits, but I don't think I can delete and re-edit my posts. Thanks!
This is a concrete example of what Nikki (I hope I'm spelling his name right) was talking about in his talk with us. It's disturbing that people are attacking aid organizations, and I'm wondering a about the rationale. Questions I'm thinking: Do the attackers want to loot what the aid workers have? Are they trying to extend the genocide in Darfur, knowing that these aid organizations are keeping many Darfuris in refugee camps alive? Are they simply trying to cause chaos?
Also, who exactly is attacking the aid organizations? Just bandits trying to make money or possibly Sudanese government agents trying to get aid organizations out? (I know it sounds like a conspiracy theory, but considering actions like painting their bomber planes like UN aid planes, I think everything is a possibility.)
I think diego raises good questions... the main one being who is attacking the aid organizations? I think once that is figured out their reason will make more sense...
It could be raiding for 'goods' but I think it is more likely that it is anti-help group actions especially because it has been growing dramatically.
I think that the main force behind these attacks on aid workers is the Sudanese government. As disturbing as it may be, the Sudanese government does not want aid workers in Darfur and will do what is necessary to reduce the number of them present in the region. As our first guest speaker from the SF Bay Area Darfur Coalition told us, the individual within the Sudanese government who is in charge of regulating humanitarian services in Darfur is the same man who was (or is?) directly involved with the killings (sorry if this is a slightly inaccurate summary, but I think I got the jist of it). With this set up of officials in place, it becomes very easy for the Sudanese government to take drastic measures to reduce the number of aid workers because there is no one in power who serves as the opposition. And as Diego said, the fact that they have painted their bomber planes to look like those of the UN is testament to the governments willingness to take drastic measures in this situation.
It's very disturbing to think that aids workers would be attacked in Darfur, but makes a lot of sense. As a result of the attacks, Darfurians have less or no access to the humanitarian aid and this itself plays a big part in continuing the genocide and delaying recuperation or reconstruction. Attacks on humanitarian aid workers are another part of the genocide, and another obstacle the international community faces in helping Darfur.
An article I read said that the Sudanese government has offered to protect aid workers, but the organizations have declined in order to remain neutral. I think if the international responded to the attacks by swarming and overloading Sudan with humanitarian aid and help, the attacks would be less damaging and common, and the people of Darfur would have a greater chance of recovery. But although many nations feel a sense of obligation to help Sudan, what actions should be taken next is always a hotly disputed topic and usually never results in enough humanitarian aid.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_re_af/darfur_threatened_aid
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