Background

The current phase of Sudan’s civil war began in 1983 with fighting between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M). The war widened in 1991, when fighting erupted between SPLA factions in areas of the south. The civil war continues today, and civilians throughout the south and the transitional zone (i.e. southern Darfur, southern Kordofan, and southern Blue Nile areas) are directly affected by GOS aerial bombings and forced relocations due to fighting. The ongoing insecurity and population displacement have not only interrupted or destroyed most of the indigenous trading and production systems, but have also been major impediments to relief efforts. The United Nations (UN) and numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within and outside the framework of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) are delivering relief assistance by airlifts, airdrops, barges, and truck convoys. OLS has operated since 1989 under a tripartite agreement between the GOS, SPLA/M, and the UN providing for negotiated access. About 2 million people are estimated to have died in Sudan from fighting, famine, and disease since 1983. According to the U.S. Committee for Refugees, more than 70,000 civilians died of war-related causes in the first half of 1998 alone.