Darfur’s displaced face grim future as vital aid is slashed
NEWS STORY | PUBLISHED: December 23, 2005
GENEVA/ROME -- Darfur’s two million displaced people could face a grim future as aid agencies dramatically scale back their programmes because of slashed funds from donors.
Major institutional funders are cutting support for the province next year. USAID is slicing this year’s US$440 million program by 60 percent, and the European Union is cutting back its budget for Darfur by 22 percent, from 54 million Euro to 42 million Euro.
Yet fighting in the province continues – with a new outbreak in recent weeks near the key town of Zalingei, West Darfur, that has forced more than 1,000 to flee and left more than 60 killed and scores injured.
The ACT-Caritas joint Darfur operation is among several relief agencies responding to the needs of those escaping the fighting, which is around the town of Nyangadulu.
Responding to this kind of emergency is just one part of ACT-Caritas work, but the program -- one of the largest emergency-relief operations in South and West Darfur -- is being forced to cut back in 2006 due to lack of funds.
It’s a situation faced by other major aid agencies in the area – particularly those that receive funding from major governments and international organisations.
And aid workers say that, should the situation in Darfur dramatically improve or deteriorate, leading to either massive refugee return or further displacement, they could struggle to scale up their operations in response.
Anne Masterson, ACT-Caritas director of the Darfur operation, said, “The needs of those affected by the Pakistani earthquake, Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and the tsunami have tended to eclipse the suffering of people in Darfur."
“Our Darfur operation is looking at around a 25 percent cut in funding -- even if we reach our 2006 appeal target of $15 million for next year. Our donors -- mainly Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox relief agencies – have a record of commitment. We will need this network’s support to help us to run our reshaped and streamlined operation next year.”
The effect of the cutbacks is streamlining of programs - possibly even pullout - something that has already started to happen.
In the main hospital in Nyala -- capital of South Darfur -- a special feeding center for severely malnourished children is now at risk. The aid agency that was running it has just handed it back to the government, which says it will struggle to keep the centre open unless there is outside help.
