Part of Darfur no-go area

2004-10-13 22:22

Khartoum - United Nations officials have declared northern Darfur a no-go area for all the UN agencies after two humanitarian workers were killed when their car drove on an anti-tank landmine early this week.

Radhia Ashouri, spokesperson of the UN envoy to Sudan, said security had worsened, with widespread of ceasefire violations, rape and abduction cases inside and outside displaced people's camps in the three states of Darfur.

In northern Darfur, Ashouri said rebels of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) had confronted a UNCEF team travelling by helicopter to undertake a polio vaccination campaign last Saturday.

In south Darfur, bandits continued ambushing and looting the civilian population.

Government-backed Arab militiamen were also still attacking large number of villages, with three men and a women killed, three injured and four women abducted in latest incidents.

In west Darfur, the Office of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) reported militias surrounding population areas and the police guarding the settlements were unable to prevent harassment and threats. - Sapa-dpa

SAPA