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FROM THE FIELD

IRC: Dire Consequences After Sudan Expels Aid Agencies
06 Mar 2009 08:09:00 GMT
 Source: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
International Rescue Committee

Website: Website: http://www.theirc.org

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Thousands could soon be without water in Darfur
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Thousands could soon be without water in Darfur
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Background

•  Darfur conflict

•  AIDS pandemic

•  Sudan conflicts

•  Health and diseases

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The mass expulsion of humanitarian aid organizations from Darfur is having immediate and alarming consequences, with thousands of people already being denied critical health services.

The government of Sudan terminated work licenses of the International Rescue Committee and 12 other international aid groups in Darfur yesterday and today, decimating the relief effort in a region where more than two million people remain displaced and dependent on foreign assistance.

An IRC clinic that provided medical care for tens of thousands of people in the South Darfur town of Kass was shut down today by government officials. Other IRC clinics and water programs were still in operation today, but at a drastically reduced scale.

"Our clinics have a month's worth of medicines and supplies and there's enough fuel to run our water pumps for two weeks, but after that, the situation will become very bleak, very fast," said Kurt Tjossem, who oversees IRC programs in the Horn and East of Africa.

In sprawling Kalma Camp in South Darfur, the two largest providers of health care, one of which is the IRC, have been ordered to shut down. This will leave 91,000 people without essential medical services.

In Kass, also in South Darfur, the IRC and three other agencies that provide water are being forced to close their operations -- meaning 100,000 people will be without clean drinking water.

In Zalingei, in West Darfur, the IRC and the only other provider of water are being ousted. That is another 100,000 people who will be without access to safe water.

"If the Sudanese government doesn't reverse its decision, the humanitarian impact could be devastating," says Tjossem. "We provide clean water for people to drink. We work to prevent the spread of disease and ensure that hundreds of thousands of people have medical care when they are sick. These are programs that keep people alive. If they disappear, I fear many lives will be lost."




[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Topics

•  Health

•  International Humanitarian Law

•  Media & Humanitarianism

•  Refugees & displacement

•  Water

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Emergencies

•  Darfur conflict

•  Sudan conflicts

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Members

•  International Rescue Committee (IRC)

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NGO latest

•  IRC: Dire Consequences After Sudan Expels Aid Agencies
International Rescue Committee

•  Situation in Sudan
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Malteser International - Germany

•  NRC leaves Sudan
NRC

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Latest news

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Background information

Briefings
Darfur conflict - [Who works where]
Sudan conflicts - [Who works where]

Topics
Health International Humanitarian Law Media & Humanitarianism Refugees & displacement Water
Facts & figures
Sudan
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 UN council to discuss Sudan order against aid groups (1 minute ago)

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 IRC: Dire Consequences After Sudan Expels Aid Agencies (1 minute ago)

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Maps
 MAP: Situation in Sudan (as of 03 Mar 2009) - Location Map (1 minute ago)


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