More money needed for Darfur
2005-06-28 09:43
Geneva - A senior official from the United Nations (UN) refugee agency on Monday said it is facing a funding shortfall that is hurting efforts to protect people in Sudan's conflict-ravaged Darfur region.
"The programme is in danger," said Erika Feller, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) head of international protection.
"Protection is a function that attracts a lot of rhetoric but it doesn't win the money," she said.
UNHCR has gathered only $3m of the $31m it needs this year for protection work in Darfur, ranging from helping rape victims to trying to reconcile warring communities.
Feller, who has just returned from a mission to west Darfur, said UNHCR may have to shelve plans to fan out across that state to boost the effectiveness of its operations.
Darfur has been torn by civil war since February 2003, which has fed into traditional disputes between farmers and herders.
Between 180 000 and 300 000 people have died, the vast majority of them civilians, and at least 2.4 million more have fled their homes.
Rape a major problem
Human rights watchdogs charge rape has been so widespread in the scorched earth campaign unleashed by the government and its Arab militia allies against Darfur's rebel groups it is deliberately being used as a weapon of war.
Among the UNHCR efforts under threat is an operation to create women's shelters in secure areas.
But while the risk to women and girls is getting the attention it deserves, more focus is needed on all children, said Feller.
Youngsters face not only sexual and other physical violence, but also forced recruitment by all sides in the conflict, separation from their families, and psychological trauma.
"I believe the problems related to children are underestimated," Feller said.
Feller said she noted "pockets of security" in west Darfur, partly because of the deployment of African Union (AU) monitors.
"The situation has improved. But I don't think one should read into that, that by any means it's an acceptable situation."