The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently assessed the food supply in 20 selected villages in Northern, Western and Southern Darfur, where violence and rain shortfalls are directly undermining coping mechanisms that have normally ensured the survival of the communities living there.

Villagers have been able to sow only a third of the usual crops, and looting of seeds, tools and cattle has further worsened the situation. If people are able to reach their plots to harvest crops, the current food gap could narrow by November or December. In any event most of these limited staple-crop yields will be consumed by next January or February in Western Darfur and by March or April in Northern and Southern Darfur. The overall food shortage is likely to last until the following harvest in 2005.

In an effort to prevent further displacement to the camps, the ICRC will maintain its current assistance to the residents of rural areas. By distributing seed and tools for the next farming season (May-July 2005) the ICRC intends to help communities recover from the destruction suffered over the last year. However, this support can succeed only if the security situation improves.

The ICRC is engaging in dialogue with all parties to the conflict to remind them of their obligation to ensure, as far as possible, freedom of movement for people and goods, and thus allow basic economic activity to continue. Under international humanitarian law, the civilian population must be protected against dangers arising from military operations.

The ICRC has been present in Sudan since 1978. Currently the organization has over 200 expatriates and 2,000 Sudanese staff working in its humanitarian operations throughout the country.