Incident, Suspension, Darfur

French aid group Medecins du Monde announced it was suspending operations in Darfur due to insecurity. The organization had been operating in the region since 2004.

More Darfur...

Although reported on earlier in this blog, this week Action Contre La Faim (Action Against Hunger) confirmed an international staff member was raped and several others were sexually assaulted during a December incident in Gereida. Additional information on past assault incidents and some supposed reasons why this hasn't been more widely reported is included. Does your organization stock HIV/AIDS PEP (Post Exposure Protection) kits and have policies and procedures in place for their use?

Reuters has a good summary article on the current levels of insecurity in Sudan entitled, Attacks on aid groups cripple Darfur relief.

Darfur is an interesting case study from a high-level, security management standpoint. I know of at least one large NGO that was advised to suspend operations in Darfur due to insecurity, but continues its programs mostly because senior management believes the public relations benefits outweigh the staff exposure to risk.

In my opinion, most humanitarian organizations don't do a very good job of clearly establishing and articulating acceptable levels of risk to staff. It would be useful for senior management to brush up on some basic economic theory in cost/benefit ratios, especially as it applies to staff members.

What are we willing to risk to achieve our mission? Is the death or rape of a staff member simply the cost of doing business? Is one death OK, but will two cause us to suspend operations? Is the humanitarian work we are performing really making a difference compared to the level of personal risk staff is experiencing? Very hard questions, that are all too infrequently asked.

Incident: Arrests/assaults, Darfur

Local police and security officials raided an international non-governmental organization compound in Nyala and arrested 20 people, including five United Nations staff members, staff of the African Union Mission in Sudan and NGO personnel. Several of those arrested sustained during their detention serious injuries which required treatment at the United Nations clinic. All personnel were subsequently released. More here and here.

UN warns Darfur's aid operation may collapse

"UN agencies issued an unprecedented joint appeal on Wednesday calling for an end to the violence in Darfur, where widespread attacks and insecurity threaten to collapse the world's largest aid operation." More here and here.

The Janjaweed's new clothes

Article on how the Janjaweed in Darfur are changing their appearance by dressing like soldiers to better blend in. A good example of the importance of frequent reassessment to determine if threats may have changed - in this case a threat that's still present, but looks different.

Aid workers beaten, raped in Darfur

More details are coming to light on the evacuations in Gereida, Sudan last month. Following an article in the French newspaper Le Monde, an Action Against Hunger spokesperson said the staff suffered "beatings, blows from rifle butts, robbery, assault and at least one rape." These incidents as well as mock executions, gunfire directed at buildings, and vehicles being stripped prompted the evacuations. It is unclear if the ACF personnel involved were national or international staff. This marks the second large scale security incident that's impacted ACF in the past six months - the first being the murder of 17 staff members in Sri Lanka in August.

Full Le Monde article in French here, also a rudimentary English translation (thanks to Google).

Readers who have additional information on the Gereida incident are encouraged to comment (anonymously if appropriate).

Incident: Evacuation, Darfur

The UN evacuated 71 staff members after gunmen raided several humanitarian compounds at the Gereida camp (Darfur's largest, with over 130,00 refugees). Vehicles, radios, money and equipment were stolen during the attack. No staff members were injured. The incident is being viewed as the single biggest attack on aid workers to date in the troubled area.

This marks the eighth evacuation for UN staff in the Darfur region this month. More info here.

12/22/06 Update - Action Against Hunger press release about evacuating 23 staff from Gereida following the attack. Other NGOs appear to have evacuated too, but haven't made official statements.

More Darfur...

Oxfam and IRC press releases on the worsening situation in Darfur, with a number of mentions of recent humanitarian organization security incidents. Also an AFP news report that states 124 UN and NGO employees have left Darfur in the latest series of evacuations.

Darfur Security Incident Chronology

Oxfam press release on the impact Darfur violence is having on humanitarian efforts with a list of security incidents that have taken place so far in December.

Rising insecurity affecting relief operations (Darfur)

IRIN article summarizing the current situation in Darfur and recent security incidents.

Incident: Vehicle attack (fatalities), Darfur

A truck contracted by Medair carrying medical supplies was attacked near the village of Sirba, in West Darfur. The vehicle was shot at and caught fire. No Medair staff were present during the incident, but it is reported up to 30 civilians traveling with the truck may have been killed during the attack. More details here.