Govt's planned assault on Maoists troubles European aid body

By Nita Bhalla

NEW DELHI (Reuters AlertNet) - India's plans to launch a major offensive against Maoist rebels in the country's heartlands could jeopardise much-needed humanitarian operations in the impoverished area, the European Commission said on Thursday.

The government has signalled that an assault against insurgents is imminent in Chhattisgarh -- the epicentre of violence between Maoist fighters, security forces and pro-government militias since 2005.

The Maoist violence - estimated to have caused 600 to 700 deaths annually and the displacement of 100,000 civilians - has spread to 182 of India's 602 districts and has been declared the country's single biggest internal security threat.

But the European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO), which has been funding relief assistance for thousands of villagers caught up in the violence since 2007, said it was concerned that its work would be at risk if violence intensified.

"It can become too dangerous, because of ongoing fighting, for our partners to access and reach out to the villages," Maria Joao Ralha, ECHO's desk officer for India, told AlertNet by phone from Brussels.

"It can also limit access as parties involved in the conflict may become too nervous and may not want humanitarians working there so villagers would not be able to receive the healthcare that our partners are providing them."

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