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Contact Andreas Zetterlund, International Liaison Officer
Email pressias.nu Phone +46-704975977 or one of our field offices.

INGOs working in Darfur are fully committed to working in accordance with humanitarian principles and international and human rights standards to ensure that humanitarian work is neutral, impartial and accountable to local communities. Further, our work aims to respect the rights of children, individuals and families.

As a community we are deeply concerned by any serious breach of humanitarian principles and work together in consultation with the people of Darfur and the local authorities to implement programmes. Currently 85% of humanitarian aid delivered in Darfur is delivered by the INGO community.

This statement is supported by 36 INGOs including:

International Aid Services (IAS), Save the Children US, Save the Children UK, Oxfam, World Vision, Concern, Care, Tearfund, International Rescue Committee, Action Contre le Faim, Norwegian Church Aid, ZOA refugee Council, International Medical Corps, War Child Holland, FAR, Save the Children Sweden, Medair, Terre Des Hommes, Action on Disability and Development, Solidarite, Acted, Merlin.

The launch of CAWP in Sudan. From left: IAS Country Director, Leif Zetterlund, and CAWP Director, Yona Lemi.

Initial reports indicate that he sustained bullet wounds on his head, chest and abdomen. He was rushed to Medina hospital where he succumbed to the injuries at around 10PM. Ahmed was a driver employed by the owner of a vehicle hired by IAS and he has been associated with IAS operations for more than ten years.

It was only last April that our Health Supervisor Maryam Mohamed Hassan was brutally murdered as she went to work in the morning. The motive for the murder is not known. Nevertheless, this act of violence cannot be condoned. IAS would like to condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms. We also take this opportunity to convey our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ahmed.

May his soul rest in peace.

Elias Kamau, Country Coordinator
International Aid Services, For the Executive Director

On Saturday the 5th November 2005, at about 3:00 pm International Aid Services (IAS) vehicle No. NS 929A was traveling from Kaya to Yei in Southern Sudan. At about 4:00 pm the vehicle was ambushed by a group of armed men some 19 kms from Kaya, close to the town of Morobo.

The vehicle had 3 IAS staff on board, 2 international staff from Bermuda and Paraguay and a Sudanese driver. The driver, Mr. Karaba Juma, was shot in the arm while the passenger in the front seat, Mr. Collin Lee (57 yrs), Bermuda, was shot in the chest and throat. His wife, Hedwig Unrau Lee (35 yrs), escaped unharmed. Mr. Lee was taken to Yei hospital for treatment but due to severe wounds he passed away around 10.20 pm.

IAS strongly condemns this brutal attack and trust that the long waiting peace in the Sudan will cover all parts of the nation.

Leif Zetterlund, Director
International Aid Services/Sweden

The team was released after a while and was able to make it back to El Geneina, where they were all taken to hospital and examined by doctors. No confirmation has yet been given on what physical damage was caused to the women participating in the convoy.

IAS is offering our most sincere condolences to the staff and their families affected by this senseless and brutal act. IAS is strongly condemning these violent acts against humanitarian workers and the people of Darfur.

Within only a month time, IAS has managed to escape one attempt to an attack in the area and this was the second attack carried out on IAS staff in Western Darfur. IAS does not find this acceptable and the violence against civilians must come to an end.

Desiree Lyckelind Senior Administrator desiree.lyckelindias.nu

04 January 2005

IAS is getting involved in the Tsunami Crises in Asia by implementation of Water and Sanitation activities in Sri Lanka. IAS Sweden has recieved a grant of 600,000 SEK from Sida/SMR for this intervention and IAS Denmark has recieved funding of 200,000 DKK that will be used for additional relief interventions in Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Churches in Denmark has also donated through IAS around 100,000 DKK. The estimated timeframe is from January 2005 - March 2005.

29 July 2004

IAS has recieved funding from SCF-US and Swedish Mission Council/Sida for drilling of 50 boreholes in El Geneina in Western Darfur State. The goal and target group of the intervention is to provide clean drinking water for 50,000 displaced people in the El Geneina area of which some are IDPs living in the camps and some in local villages that have expanded to include the refugees. The estimated timeframe is from August 2004 - April 2005.

07 July 2004

In May 2004, IAS asked for funds for assisting the refugees from the Darfur region in the Sudan. The operation to assist them was a race against time, due to the coming rain season. During the rain season all roads becomes almost impossible to use. IAS made it in time to transport blankets, cooking pots, plats etc. to a place in Northern Bahr el Ghasal where thousands of refugees have gathered. We appreciate all those of you that have contributed financially in this relief operation. IAS will continue working in assisting people in need.

Please, be informed that the name of our organisation ‘International Aid Sweden’ has been changed to ‘International Aid Services’ with effect from January 1, 2004. The reason of the change is that IAS has recently established offices in Denmark, Norway and Germany and for the sake of convenience to these partners the name was changed. In addition, the registration form for IAS Sweden has changed from having been a foundation to an association. Bank accounts remain the same as before.