World Vision to Resume Limited Operations in South Darfur IDP Camps

11 July -- World Vision will resume limited operations next Sunday (14 July) in South Darfur, 10 days after two staff were killed in an inadvertent attack on the organisation’s compound in Nyala.

“We have been monitoring the security situation in Nyala with government, United Nations agencies and other organisations, and believe that there will be no renewed hostilities between the rival armed groups,” said Simon Nyabwengi, World Vision’s Sudan National Director. 

Employees will be returning to four IDP (internally displaced people) camps to help with food and water distribution and health services in camp clinics.  These are critical, life-saving services for people in quite desperate conditions, Mr Nyabwengi said.

Staff managing the limited operations will be hosted by the UN offices, which are located away from Nyala’s Al Matar section, where the organisation’s compound is located. World Vision considers the Al Matar area to be unsafe. International staff will be hosted in the nearby UN “Super Camp.”

Local authorities and community members have helped World Vision recover some of the looted assets from its compound, which was attacked inadvertently last week leaving two staff dead. These assets include an air conditioner and water cooler; they have been handed over to local law enforcement and will be returned to World Vision.

No final decision has been made whether to re-open the compound or to relocate World Vision’s offices in the region.

For further information please contact:

Brenda Asiko,

Communications Manager, Sudan (Based in Nairobi)

World Vision International

+254-722-985-306; +254-733-600 688; (Cell)

Email:  brenda_asiko@wvi.org   Skype: brendasiko

Michael Arunga,

Emergency Communications Advisor - Africa,

World Vision International

+254-737-700302 (cell)

Email: Michael_arunga@wvi.org  Skype: michael_arunga

Simon Nyabwengi

Country Program Director

World Vision Sudan

Telephone: +249 91 215 5667 (Cell)

Email: Simon_Nyabwengi@wvi.org

Skype: symon.nyabwengi