World Vision, NGOs ‘assessing security’ before resuming South Darfur ops

World Vision International (WVI) and other relief NGOs are engaged in a security assessment following the violence last week in South Darfur capital Nyala during which the compounds of several NGOs were damaged and looted and two WVI employees were killed. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the WVI Emergency Communications Advisor for Africa, Michael Arunga, said that last week’s incidents were understandably “traumatising”, and underlined that safety of staff is “paramount”. In a press release on Thursday, WVI announced plans to “resume limited operations on Sunday”. Arunga confirmed that his organisation is “currently making a security assessment” in and around the Nyala camps for the displaced to verify it is feasible that they return to the area. “If the security situation allows, we should be back at the camps around Nyala such as Attash and El Salam within a week,” he said. “The assessment is currently ongoing. Other NGOs are also assessing safety and damages. Then they will all sit down together and assess how to move forward. Responding to concerns voiced by leaders of the displaced that the withdrawal of WVI would be “catastrophic’, Arunga acknowledges the crucial nature of the relief input. “People in Darfur rely on the NGOs. WVI and other NGOs cater for about a million people. WVI offers direct support via food aid, child-friendly spaces, health, nutrition, and interventions to the displaced, so if we are not on the ground, people will suffer,” Arunga said. “Our organisation exists in South Darfur because people need it, so as soon as we have the green light to return from a security point of view, we will,” he assures File photo: Food aid ready for distribution in Sudan (UNEP) Related: South Darfur displaced dread World Vision pull-out (11 July)South Darfur Governor imposes new measures following Nyala violence (7 July 2013)UN coordinator condemns NGO workers’ deaths in Nyala, South Darfur (7 July 2013)