Sudan:Irish aid agencies Concern and Goal have pulled their staff out of Darfur in response to the deteriorating security situation in the east African region.
Some 250 humanitarian workers have been pulled out of the region since the start of the month, leaving almost half a million people without access to essential assistance. The agencies hope the withdrawal of staff will be temporary.
The two Irish agencies yesterday joined four others - Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council and World Vision - in issuing a joint appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur.
The group says aid workers are facing unprecedented difficulties, including increased military activity, banditry and direct violence against aid workers, at a time when humanitarian needs are rising fast.
"If the deterioration is allowed to continue, the impact on civilians could be devastating," said Paul Smith-Lomas, regional director for Oxfam. "With new displacements and attacks, the presence of aid agencies is more important than ever. Yet every day brings one huge blow after another to aid efforts."
Goal chief executive John O'Shea repeated his call for a "robust" UN force to keep the peace in Darfur, saying the region was now in "free-fall".
"The question is whether the US and other nations will act to prevent further tragedy in Darfur or merely express sorrow and act later to deal with its aftermath. The choice is stark: to end a genocide or let it continue."
More than four million people are relying on humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict, which has caused 400,000 deaths.
The UN's most recent figures of humanitarian access levels in Darfur show more than a third of the region is effectively out of bounds to aid agencies.
Agencies in eastern Chad are also finding it increasingly difficult to operate, with a similar rise in attacks on humanitarian workers and looting of essential equipment.
