UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The U.N. Advance Mission in Sudan says insecurity and transport restrictions are hampering humanitarian relief to internally displaced persons in Darfur.
U.N. chief spokesman Fred Eckhard said at U.N. headquarters in New York UNAMIS reported IDPs were being harassed and intimidated by police or local authorities to return to their home villages or to explain their relationship with rebel groups in Darfur, the scene of a deadly conflict since early last year.
More than 1.45 million IDPs live in Darfur and another 200,000 people have fled to neighboring Chad because of attacks by militias and fighting between two rebel groups and Sudanese Government forces.
Eckhard said the operations of humanitarian agencies in North Darfur State have become limited because some roads remain closed. Other areas have become too dangerous to transport aid supplies.
Last Saturday, forces from the rebel Sudanese Liberation Army hijacked seven commercial trucks during the past weekend. In West Darfur and South Darfur States, UNAMIS said IDPs were harassed by police about their links to the SLA, one of the two rebel groups. Many IDPs were also pressured to return home.
