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Summary: One year after Save the Children UK was forced to withdraw from Darfur, due to the tragic death of four members of staff and escalating insecurity, the security situation is worse than ever
One year after Save the Children UK was forced to withdraw from Darfur, due to the tragic death of four members of staff and escalating insecurity, the security situation is worse than ever. It is also just over a year since Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the capital Khartoum and demanded the international community remain committed, "It is important that people in Darfur realise that the international community is determined to assist in any way that it can…and that the international focus will not go away whilst this issue remains outstanding." Tony Blair, 6 October 2004 Despite these warm words children in Darfur continue to languish in camps and those still in their villages live in constant fear of attack from armed bandits. Across Darfur, attacks continue to put civilians in danger and hamper humanitarian aid operations. Contrary to Blair’s commitment the international community is actually disengaging. The African Union mission still does not have anywhere near sufficient resources and capacity necessary to fulfil its mandate and funding for the humanitarian work in the region is declining. In 2005 a mere 56% of the UN Consolidated Appeal for Sudan was covered, leaving an astonishing $870 million in unmet requirements. In 2006 Sudan is projected to have the highest humanitarian needs of any country in the world. "We’ve heard copious amounts from the G8 and Tony Blair on Africa in 2005 yet it’s nothing more than hollow rhetoric to the generation of vulnerable children in Darfur who face another year struggling for survival in camps whilst the international community turn a blind eye to their fate." Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children Chief Executive. Meanwhile there is increasing potential for escalation in east Sudan, where issues of land ownership and rising unemployment, especially in urban areas like Port Sudan, are stoking tensions. At present the window of opportunity to resolve the pending crisis remains open, but it won't do for long. The international community must urgently commit resources and attention to Sudan, in particular Darfur, before a generation of children grow up having known nothing but fear and intimidation amidst desperate and shocking levels of poverty. The AU must be properly supported and the humanitarian funding needs met.