(Khartoum - 1 May 2004) - The UN warned today that without immediately improved security as well as access for humanitarian agencies, the crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, will worsen dramatically. The UN mission visited the three Darfur states from the 28-30 April and gathered first-hand information on the humanitarian situation in the region. It called upon the Government of Sudan to accelerate its efforts to address control armed militias, provide security and protection for displaced people and facilitate humanitarian access.
"Displaced families are living in difficult and unacceptable conditions and they continue to fear for their lives," said the UN World Food Programme Executive Director, James Morris, who led the mission. "For example, I visited Mornei which has been overwhelmed by over 60,000 displaced people who are almost completely reliant on outside assistance. Health care is limited to one small and vastly over- stretched facility. Living conditions are abysmal. Malnutrition rates among children are soaring and few if any are going to school. This pattern appears to be repeated across Darfur."

More than a million people have been forced from their homes by the armed conflict that started in February 2003. Many thousands have fled Sudan to neighbouring Chad. Repeated attacks by militia including the burning of villages, widespread looting and systematic destruction of livelihoods have left displaced people destitute. Local social services such as health care and education have collapsed.

Despite a ceasefire signed on April 8 and a consequent reduction of hostilities between the warring parties, the humanitarian crisis continues. People want to return home but are unwilling to do so until they feel reassured that security has been restored.

"We received numerous reports of sexual abuse and harassment that has limited people's access to water, food and firewood. We also witnessed first hand how volatile the security situation is, and the massive human suffering that has been inflicted. People want to go home and some have attempted to do so, but often they end up fleeing again as a result of renewed attacks. We fully support people's desire to return home, but they can only do so in a safe environment," said Morris.

The UN is urgently appealing for resources to significantly increase its operational capacity, including additional staff, transport and communications to handle the huge humanitarian task.

However, this expansion of humanitarian activities will also require the timely government approval of applications from humanitarian agencies to expand their work in Darfur. Most people will miss this year's planting season, which is due to start in the coming days. Without an adequate harvest at the end of the year, dependence on food aid for displaced and resident populations will extend for at least 18 months.

The start of the rainy season in June adds to the urgency of providing aid immediately. Heavy rains will make many roads almost impassable. Some of the displaced people may become totally cut off at a time when the risk of disease also increases dramatically.

Those in the UN mission led by James Morris include: Ambassador Tom Eric Vraalsen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs for the Sudan; Mr. Ramiro Da Silva, World Food Programme, Rome; Mr. Kevin Kennedy, Chief, Humanitarian Emergency Branch, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, New York; Mr. Daniel Augstburger, Senior Protection Officer, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, New York; Mr. Marc Van Wynsberghe, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, New York; Mr. Haile Menkerios, Director, Africa 1 Division, Department of Political Affairs, New York; Mr. Sikander Khan, Emergency Officer United Nations Children's Fund, Geneva; Mr. David Kaatrud, Emergency Programme Officer, World Food Programme, Rome; Mr. Georg Charpentier, Deputy Director, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, United Nations Development Programme, New York; Mr Laurens Jolles, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva; Mr. Alessandro Loretti, Senior Emergency Officer, World Health Organization, Geneva; Ms. Pamela Delargy, Chief of the Emergency Response Unit, United Nations Population Fund, New York; Ms. Marcela Jaime Villareal, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.