MSF Evacuates Staff in North Darfur Following Attacks on

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001174 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL PHUM AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: MSF Evacuates Staff in North Darfur Following Attacks on Compounds ¶1. (U) On August 1, the humanitarian organization Mdecins Sans Frontihres (MSF) announced that it had suspended activities and evacuated staff from Tawila and Shangil Tobaya in North Darfur, following violent attacks on MSF compounds. In two separate but similar attacks, groups of armed men entered MSF compounds at night, held staff at gunpoint and stole money set aside for salaries as well as other valuables. It is unclear if or when MSF activities in Tawila and Shangil Tobaya will resume. ¶2. (U) As a result of the withdrawal, MSF estimates that tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs)in North Darfur will be without medical assistance. In Tawila, MSF was the only medical organization providing medical care to more than 30,000 IDPS living in three camps, as well as the local population. In Shangil Tobaya, MSF provided medical services for 28,000 IDPs in two camps and another 5,000 people in surrounding villages. ¶3. (SBU) This is not the first time that MSF has suspended activity in either Tawila or Shangil Tobaya for security reasons. During the past year, the team in Tawila was been evacuated twice after being targeted by assailants on three occasions, according to MSF. In addition, MSF suspended activities in Shangil Tobaya for several months in 2007. In a statement, MSF Head of Mission in Darfur Monica Camacho called the latest suspension "a difficult decision" but noted that "it is impossible for our teams to work and provide medical aid without a minimum guarantee of security and respect for humanitarian work." Despite the localized evacuations, MSF maintains approximately 1,500 humanitarian staff throughout other parts of North, South, and West Darfur. Jose Hulsenbek, MSF/Holland Head of Mission in South Darfur, told aidoff that programs in South Darfur are continuing under normal operations. ¶4. (U) In response to MSF's evacuation, on August 1 UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes called upon armed opposition groups as well as government forces to ensure security throughout Darfur. He noted that in 2008, 180 humanitarian vehicles were hijacked, 145 aid workers kidnapped, and nine aid workers killed. "Impunity for such attacks must end," he said in a statement. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: MSF prides itself on being one of the most expeditionary NGOs providing emergency medical care on the frontlines of armed conflict. Considering that it still operates in areas of Afghanistan and Iraq, its pullout signals the extent to which security has deteriorated in areas of Darfur. Sadly, this trend shows no sign of being reversed, as attacks on humanitarian workers continue to be committed in Darfur at an alarming rate. FERNANDEZ