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Aid workers in Darfur face increased threat of kidnap

09 November 2009

Darfur in Western Sudan remains one the world’s worst humanitarian crises with a total of 4.7 million affected by the on-going conflict. Many of these people rely on aid provided by local and international organisations. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to operate. Over the past few years, violence towards aid workers has seen a marked increase with humanitarian staff becoming the targets of direct attacks. Compound break-ins, car-jackings and robberies have become commonplace, perhaps an even more worrying trend though is the recent increase in the number of relief workers kidnapped and abducted.

A growing trend

According to UN statistics, between January and August 2009, a staggering 50 staff from UN or aid organisations were reportedly kidnapped or abducted in Darfur. National staff are particularly vulnerable to attack as Sudanese aid workers represent the vast majority of relief workers in Darfur and are usually on the front line. However, recent developments have shown that foreign nationals are increasingly at risk - kidnappers have seized four groups of foreigners in Darfur since March, a trend that was virtually unheard of before.

Living with the threat of kidnap

Steve Ngugi* works for an international NGO in Geneina , West Darfur, as a Water and Sanitation Coordinator. He spends significant periods travelling around to remote locations by road. As with most aid workers living and working in Darfur, he is concerned about the safety and security risks, in particular the possibility of being abducted; “Everyone is aware on a daily basis of the situation in Darfur, we know of people who were kidnapped a few weeks ago and are still being held. Kidnap is a scenario that is quite likely to happen in Darfur, whether it’s motivated by economic reasons, political reasons or both”, he comments.

“Working in the camps the security problem is not that high, as the camps are closed off to outsiders. However, when we are out in the field, the security is not so good and there are difficulties. We have heard reports of car-jackings in just the last few days, we have therefore begun using vehicles from the local communities, so they are less of a target.” Steve is a Kenyan national and as international staff become more of a target he reflects; “Although both national and international staff are at risk, the risks are now particularly high for international staff working here – if both are abducted, often the national staff will be released first.”

Steve’s Director recommended he attend RedR’s new Dealing with Kidnapping/Abduction course. Steve found the course extremely relevant to his work and situation. One thing he found particularly useful was learning how to analyse potential situations; “You can read so many things from each aspect of the kidnap, for example from the vehicle or the time of the incident, which helps you to determine how to react. Should we scale down? Should we close the programme? - all these things can be deduced from analysing the incident. Steve liked the practical element of the course, which he felt helped him know how to react;

“The course has helped me to be more aware and more cautious. Not only to be able to avoid such situations but to know how to deal with it if it did happen. Now if I am kidnapped, I would deal with it differently. When you are in such a situation you can get confused and panic – which could lead to the loss of your life or someone else’s. It is important to remember that it is not about you personally and this can help you to stay calm.”

Supporting aid agencies in Darfur and worldwide

The Dealing with Kidnapping/Abduction course was introduced by RedR in May 2009, in response to demand for such training from agencies based in Sudan who were concerned by the escalation of kidnappings. The course is part of an extensive programme of safety courses offered by RedR in Sudan and has so far been delivered in Khartoum, El Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina.

RedR also delivers safety and security training in other countries around the world through its general training programme and bespoke training. The following courses are coming up:

US
Certificate in Security Management (Credit rated) 7-11 December 2009
Security Training of Trainers 14-16 December 2009

Sudan
Management of Staff Safety, 9-11 November 2009
Environmental Health and Safety/ First Aid, 10-12 November 2009, 17-19 November 2009
Staff Welfare and Critical Incidents, 16-18 November 2009
Field Travel Safety, 25 November 2009
Staff Welfare and Critical Incidents Refresher Training, 26 November 2009
Foundation of Staff Safety, 7-9 December 2009
Foundation of Staff Welfare and Critical Incidents, 14-16 December 2009

UK
Certificate in Security Management (credit-rated) 25-29 January 2010

For details of all these courses, please visit the course calendar.

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