Exclusive
July 22(Darfur24)The United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Toby Harward, agreed to conduct an interview with “Darfur 24”, hours after his arrival in West Darfur State, coming there from Central Darfur, heading a UN delegation to assess the situation on the ground.
Harward spoke about the conditions of the displaced and those fleeing the hell of war in the areas under the control of four military authorities, in a calm diplomatic language that showed concern for preserving the United Nations’ relationship with all parties.
Perhaps it is better to start from the indirect negotiations mediated by the United Nations in Geneva. Have you reached any agreements that lead to safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid?
The role of the United Nations is to deliver humanitarian aid to all those in need. After the outbreak of war in Sudan, many citizens began to suffer from hunger and lacked shelter. Others fled the fighting in Darfur and other regions, so our role was to deliver aid to them. The negotiations were in Geneva headed by the envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, it was a first step to encourage the parties to negotiate.
For us, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. Innocent civilians have been attacked and this is against international humanitarian law and human rights.
We at the United Nations will make every effort to negotiate with all parties fighting among themselves to stop violations against humanitarian law and stop attacks on civilians. Therefore, we need all air and land crossings and routes for food, medicine, and shelter to reach all affected areas and those in need, and for this to be achieved, we are working to bridge the gap between the two parties to reach a ceasefire and sign a peace agreement.
Have you reached an agreement with Rapid Support Forces RSF that allows humanitarian aid to arrive through new crossings and routes other than those specified by the Sudanese authorities in Port Sudan?
I do not want to talk about how to coordinate with the two parties, but in Darfur we have cooperation with the army, the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Muhammad Nour, and the joint forces in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. We find assistance from all the authorities on the ground from whom we find assistance, and we must strengthen this cooperation. With all parties.
We need all the crossings and tracks in Al-Tineh, Adre, Kulbus, Bayda, Habila, Forbaranga and Umm Dukhun, in addition to the Renk track in South Sudan – Kosti in the White Nile State and the crossings between Sudan and Egypt. We are a humanitarian institution that must cooperate with all parties so that we can deliver aid.
What is the United Nations plan to provide relief to the citizens of Darfur during the lean season, and what are the most important challenges it faces?
We face many challenges in delivering aid and in financing. Funding was not sufficient by donors and the international community to provide the required assistance.
The relief delivery plan requires cooperation and coordination with all parties. We need coordination with the government in Port Sudan, the de facto authorities in Darfur, and the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdul Wahid Muhammad Nur faction, so that we can provide aid to the most vulnerable people.
The Army and RSF signed the Jeddah Declaration regarding facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid. This is a very important document that governs the relations of the warring parties with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, and both parties must respect that document.
What is the number of displaced people IDPs in Jebel Marra areas according to UN estimation?
According to the authorities on the ground – the Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdul Wahid faction – there are more than 5 million displaced people, but I saw tens of thousands of displaced people inside the areas controlled by the Abdul Wahid Movement forces who do not have anything. Some of them live in trees and others suffer from hunger due to the lack of sufficient food. Unfortunately, the United Nations or partners did not provide them with any assistance due to weak funding, but there is hope, especially since the region is safe and there are no unruly people.
Did the United Nations reach an agreement with the Abdul Wahid movement similar to its agreement with the RSF and the army to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the displaced people in places under its control?
Yes, we have coordination and cooperation.
What specific demands did the Jebel Marra displaced persons present to your delegation?
Food, shelter, shelter equipment and clothing. Some residents there suffer from colds due to the cold weather, and malaria and other diseases spread due to the fall, and medicines are insufficient. They need medical supplies, water and sanitation, and others need psychological treatment.
Is it in your plan to deliver humanitarian aid through airports in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces?
We need all airports in El Fasher, North Darfur, El Obeid, North Kordofan, Kadugli, South Kodfan, Nyala, South Darfur, and El Geneina, West Darfur, to remain open to facilitate the humanitarian response.
After your tour in most areas of the Darfur region, what is your assessment of the humanitarian situation?
The humanitarian situation is “catastrophic.” I visited the Zamzam camp, and there are displaced people in the streets, and there are citizens who fled the fighting in El Fasher, and they are in Tawila, Jebel Marra, Kabkabiya, Saraf Amra, Al-Tineh, and Umm Baru. There are citizens who fled from the Hasahisa camp in the city of Zalingei, and refugees in Umm Shalayah, Kerenak, and El Geneina. They all need help.
Has the United Nations got assurance and guarantees from the parties that the organizations’ convoys will not be looted by armed parties?
Unfortunately, there is relative cooperation. We want to increase the number of trucks entering through Port Sudan in eastern Sudan and Atbara and Dayeh in the north of the country, and then to Darfur, so we want coordination with the government in Port Sudan.
As for Darfur, unfortunately, convoys were exposed to a number of incidents of looting by criminals and unruly people, as they looted trucks in the area between Sisi and Zalingei three weeks ago, as well as in Kulbus. Therefore, we ask the de facto authorities on the ground – the Rapid Support Forces – to extend their control over the land to avoid any truck looting incident. We do not want to see any crimes, especially since there are very many checkpoints and checkpoints on the roads. On the road between Nirteti and Zalingei, we found more than 20 checkpoints and checkpoints, which we passed without problems, but we learned that humanitarian and commercial trucks pay fees in order to be allowed to pass. We at the United Nations are prohibited from paying any fees for the passage of humanitarian aid to any base, so Rapid Support must ensure that aid passes without paying taxes to anyone.