Darfur refugees "invisible", says NGO

Tens of thousands of people who have fled from Darfur in western Sudan to neighbouring Chad are "invisible" to the humanitarian community, receiving practically no assistance, according to Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF). "MSF is extremely concerned about the lack of assistance and protection for Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad," it said in a statement released on Wednesday. "They are in dire need of assistance and protection against violence." The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that about 75,000 people are currently scattered on the edge of the Darfur conflict zone, on the Chadian side of the border. Most of them, spread out over 600 km, are women and children. With temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius during the day and minus 15 at night, as well as sand storms and rain, respiratory infections among the refugees are on the rise. They have little shelter, relying on torn rags and bits of plastic sheeting. According to MSF, there is no clean drinking water, forcing people to dig in sandy riverbeds with their bare hands to find "a dirty brown liquid". With scarce food supplies, malnutrition is also on the increase. In their first three days of medical consultations, MSF received over 20 severely malnourished children. On top of the hardship faced in Chad, the refugees have already had to flee their homes to escape aerial bombardments and militia attacks in Darfur, MSF pointed out. "Without exception, the refugees are traumatised by the violence they have been subjected to. Many no longer have the emotional strength to do anything except lie in the sand day and night, letting events unfold around them," it said. A rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) launched a rebellion in March to fight against what it described as marginalisation and discrimination in Darfur. The military response by the government, which escalated throughout the summer forcing more and more people to become displaced or to flee to Chad, "is being backed up by systematic attacks by Arab militias who seek to crush the rebellion and terrorise villagers", MSF said. A ceasefire agreement between both sides came into effect on 6 September after which the government committed itself to controlling the militias, but the killings, burning of villages and displacements have continued. The UN estimates that within Darfur about 300,000 people have been displaced by the attacks since August. There are no accurate estimates of the numbers killed. UNHCR has launched an appeal for US $6.2 million for emergency assistance for the refugees. "We're painfully aware of the miserable situation of the Darfur refugees, and we desperately want to help them," said UNHCR spokeswoman Kitty McKinsey.