SUDAN Q NORTH DARFUR UPDATE Q LAST

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001982

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR JBRAUSE, NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN Q NORTH DARFUR UPDATE Q LAST
HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES WITHDRAW FROM TAWILAH


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Summary
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1. Organized banditry and clashes between various armed
groups have forced the last two humanitarian agencies
operating in Tawilah district, North Darfur to suspend
activities and relocate staff. USAID Darfur Field
Office (DFO) staff estimate that as a result of this
withdrawal, 110,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs)
and affected communities in the Tawilah area will be
left without much needed health care services. End
summary.

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Attack on Relief International (RI) Compound
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2. USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
(OFDA) implementing partner, RI reported that on August
11 at approximately 2100 hours, three armed men entered
the RI compound in Tawilah, seized two vehicles and
drivers, and forced the two drivers to drive the
vehicles 25 km southwest in the direction of Tarnet.
Upon arrival at Tarnet, the assailants released the
drivers, who returned by foot to Tawilah, arriving at
approximately 0300 hours on August 12. The drivers
reported that the assailants spoke with Zaghawa
dialects.


3. RI staff in El Fasher coordinated with the U.N.
Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) and African
Union (AU),who sent patrols to Tawilah on August 12 to
escort 13 national staff to El Fasher. RI staff
reported that after the attack, AU peacekeepers in
Tawilah provided excellent support to RI staff and
remained available until a RI team from El Fasher
arrived. Following the attack and due to the potential
for clashes between various Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)
factions, UNDSS declared the Tawilah area QNo-Go.


4. This is the second attack on RI in recent weeks. On
July 12, a RI employee was kidnapped and killed in a
carjacking while in transit between Saraf Omra and
Kabkabiya in western North Darfur. To date, the vehicle
has not been recovered.

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Suspension of Humanitarian Activities in the Tawilah
Area
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5. RI has suspended services in Tawilah District,
including Dali, AU, Rwanda, and Abassy camps near
Mellit, as well as in the city of Tawilah, Korma, Kafod,
and Sarafaya in rural El Fasher. RI was the only
provider of health care services in these areas and
later assumed a camp coordination role. According to
DFO staff, RI reported that there are 110,000 IDPs in
the Tawilah area in need of health care services and due
to the security situation and the withdrawal of RI,
these IDPs will not be served. As a result of both
these security incidents, RI currently only has two
vehicles available for their use for program activities
in El Fasher.


6. Following the second attack on RI, Save the
Children-Sweden (SC-Sweden) also suspended operations
and withdrew from the Tawilah area. SC-Sweden was
providing assistance in the education and child
protection sectors.

HUME