Date published: 1 April 2009

World Vision is appealing for funds to address critical aid gaps in various displacement camps in Darfur and other parts of northern Sudan after the Sudanese government expelled several relief organisations from the war-torn region earlier this month. 

Sudanese authorities expelled 13 international aid groups from Darfur after the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged the Sudanese President, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, with war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur.

The expulsions have severely affected aid delivery in Darfur and created various humanitarian gaps, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

According to the United Nations, 4.7 million people already rely on humanitarian assistance in Darfur. The expulsions have severely affected aid delivery and created various humanitarian gaps, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

A joint assessment by the United Nations and the Sudanese government has found gaps in the provision of food, health care, water, shelter and other humanitarian services formerly provided by the expelled organisations.

World Vision has not been affected by the expulsions and is still working in Darfur and northern parts of the country.

“We will not let people suffer if we have the capacity to assist them,” said Mario Rodrigues, operations director for World Vision in Northern Sudan. “We’ll continue assessing needs and responding to them as per our capacity,” he said.