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Aid worker realities in Sudan's troubled west
23 December 2011
As the only organisation providing essential safety, security and risk management training to humanitarian workers and relief agencies in Sudan, RedR is helping to ensure aid delivery continues in one of the most insecure regions in the world. Communications and Fundraising Director, Anne Durrant, recently travelled to Khartoum and Nyala, Darfur, to ensure vital security skills are reaching as many people as possible. She describes some of the challenges aid organisations and their staff face in the field.
What’s the security situation like in Sudan?
Security it still a real issue for aid agencies operating in Sudan, and particularly in Darfur. On arrival in Nyala, capital of South Darfur State in Western Sudan, we received a sobering security briefing along with a list of recent incidents. These included kidnapping, car-jacking and robbery to name but a few. This is the reality of operating as an aid worker in this region and it’s exactly why we and all humanitarian agencies have a curfew and security procedures to help mitigate the risks.
What is the reality of life for aid workers in more insecure locations?
Picture the scene: it’s nearly 6pm and we’ve been in the compound where we are staying since 2pm. Between 5pm and 8am the next morning there is a curfew for all international staff, but we are well catered for. We each have our own bedroom, a living room area, outdoor seating and a kitchen, shower and toilet. There is also a running machine because physical fitness is hard to maintain when you walk only a few feet a day. All of the rooms have secure doors with extra security bars to keep us safe. OK, the beds are pretty saggy, the TV reception dodgy and the water is cold, but then this is just part and parcel of life in the field.
How do aid organisations move their staff around in Sudan?
The World Food Programme provides the bulk of the transportation for humanitarians in Sudan. In 2010, WFP ran their vital air transport service for 367 agencies and transported 144,000 passengers a year to 120 locations across Sudan. It’s an experience - you don’t find out what route your WFP plane will take until you board – that can mean rather a few stops until you reach your destination!
What are some of the challenges of training aid workers Sudan?
Ensuring NGOs are able to access training and support from RedR in Sudan is difficult, and reaching national NGOs can be especially difficult. Why? Not only are humanitarian organisations rightly focussed on delivering their services to communities, but the insecure environments make travel in Sudan difficult. But, we know that training national NGOs makes a real difference to the capacity of Sudanese agencies to improve the lives of those affected by the ongoing humanitarian situation.
What impact is RedR’s training having on the ground?
Here’s one story. About a month ago, four aid workers from a Sudanese NGO were travelling from Nyala to Gereida. Suddenly, they saw four people with guns on the road ahead. Because they had been trained by RedR they knew what to do. They slowed down, stopped the car and got out with their hands up. They remained calm and compliant. The driver had applied the security lock to the car so the gunmen couldn’t take the vehicle. But most importantly, they were released without harm and went on their way. These stories, and many others like them, show just why we continue to work so hard to train even more humanitarians across Sudan.
Read more about our work in Sudan.
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Photo: Aid oganisations work with Sudanese locals to build infrastructure © Ross Duffy
