Unicef airlifts emergency supplies as crisis worsens in Darfur

Unicef flew-in emergency supplies today, in response to the growing influx of newly displaced people to Um Baru locality in North Darfur.

During the last two weeks some 4,000 additional people have arrived at the locality, most of them women and children, Unicef reported in a press release today. “Their number continues to rise daily.”

“The deepening humanitarian crisis in Darfur is worrying,” said Geert Cappelaere, Unicef Representative in Sudan. “Children have no responsibility in any of the conflict, but are at risk of having both their present and future jeopardised.”

Aimed at an initial 4,500 affected people in Um Baru, the supplies flown-in today “include high energy biscuit and medical kits with essential drugs and equipment for the management of common childhood diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea”.

“Additionally, plastic sheets, blankets, hygiene kits, chlorine tabs, washing soap, jerry cans and other non-food items are ready to be air lifted in the coming week,” Unicef announced.

Unicef considers the conflict in and around Um Baru “not an isolated crisis but one of a growing number of active armed conflicts across Darfur and in South Kordofan”.

In North Darfur alone, more than 21,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of this year. An estimated 60 per cent of them are children.

“Unicef renews its urgent and firm call to all parties to the conflict to implement concrete measures to protect children at all times from the impact of the conflict and prevent any violations of their rights,” Cappelaere said.