Daily Darfur: Who Has the Whole Story on Aid Gaps?

A couple of reports, though vague, should be calling into question the government of Sudan's assertion that "gaps are filled, all is calm, go home."

According to UNAMID's daily press briefing yesterday:

"The general security situation in Darfur has been relatively calm. However, residents of internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps continue to experience indiscriminate shooting by unknown persons during the night in the camps. With regard to the humanitarian situation, IDPs continue to raise complaints about the lack of water, as well as other physical, social and educational facilities."

A few important questions left unanswered: Who is responsible for the shooting? Is it general crime, or something more political? Is anyone trying to find out? And are the IDP complaints about water valid? How serious and widespread are they?

And about that --- the government claims that the humanitarian aid situation is under control, with all of the gaps created by the aid group expulsions taken care of. Yet Darfuris in the camps are calling into Radio Dabanga with stories of water, food, and medicine shortages. Camp leaders complain that international visitors are only shown what the government of Sudan wants them to see. (FYI: US Envoy Scott Gration is on his way to Darfur again.)

So what accounts for the discrepancy? As Michael recently reported on Humanitarian Relief, our doomsday predictions about aid breakdowns have not yet come to pass. Are reports of shortages isolated and manageable, or is there a larger disconnect between what the government of Sudan wants us to know and what is actually transpiring on the ground? If there are significant shortages, why haven't we seen more movement out of Sudan and into Chad? Is anyone in a position of international influence asking these questions?

The government of Sudan has a distinct advantage in controlling the flow of the information, post-expulsion: It kicked out many of the region's witnesses, and effectively bullied others into silence. So can we be sure that we are being told to whole story?

Quickies

Fellow blogger Savo Heleta weighs in on South Africa's support of the continent's tyrants. Meanwhile, Namibia joins the ranks of countries eager to host the world's most boisterous war criminal, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

[Photo from Sudan Tribune: People living in Kalma camp, one of the biggest internally displaced camps of Darfur, hold up a sign in protest, (file photo June 2005) ]