A/HRC/27/69 especially in the conflict areas. During the reporting period, there were incidents of sexual and gender-based violence including rape, mainly targeting IDPs in conflict-affected areas. Among cases reported was the shooting and killing of five women including a minor following a failed attempted rape, while the victims were fleeing the attacks on Hajer and surrounding villages in South Darfur in February 2014. In addition, on 9 April a United Nations peacekeeper was gang-raped in El-Fasher, North Darfur. Four suspects were arrested and charged to court. 67. There is increased reluctance on the part of victims to formally report incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, for fear of social stigma or reprisals and also due to the absence of government security forces in some localities where those crimes are prevalent. There are no government police forces in Kalma IDP camp (South Darfur), Abusurug (West Darfur), and Korma, Saraf Omra and Tawilla (North Darfur), which fosters a culture of impunity for such crimes in those areas. UNAMID has made commendable efforts to provide training and capacity-building to civil society groups and IDPs on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and referral pathways, as well as to collaborate with relevant government departments on addressing information-sharing gaps on the problem. 68. The Independent Expert urges the Government to establish effective security and police presence in the areas where sexual and gender-based violence is prevalent. He also urges the international community to help with technical assistance and capacity-building to strengthen community policing and enhance the protection of women and children in the conflict areas. K. Humanitarian access and Government’s suspension of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross 69. While the Humanitarian Affairs Commission claims its coordination of humanitarian aid has improved significantly, the question of timeliness and unhindered access continues to be raised by different humanitarian agencies. It is reported that humanitarian access to Jebel Marra areas (North Darfur) remains problematic, and that Adillah and Abu Karina localities (East Darfur) have not been reached since August 2013. The Commission needs to look into these access problems and allow humanitarian protection activities in these areas. 70. Due to non-access to areas under the control of armed movements since 2011, it is estimated that 160,000 children under the age of 5 have not received necessary routine immunization in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States, leaving them at risk of contracting polio and other vaccine preventable diseases. The Independent Expert joins the call made by the United Nations Children’s Fund to the Government of the Sudan and the armed movements to allow vaccination access to the conflict areas to save children from preventable diseases. 71. Since 1 February 2014 the Government has suspended the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Sudan for “technical and administrative reasons”. Being a neutral humanitarian agency with unique experience in assisting victims in situations of conflicts and natural disasters, ICRC is indispensable in providing humanitarian assistance particularly to civilians in rebel-controlled areas of conflict. The Independent Expert discussed the suspension of ICRC activities with the Director of the Humanitarian Affairs Commission and was assured that the issue was being looked into with ICRC to find a quick resolution to it. The suspension of ICRC activities in the Sudan has resulted in humanitarian deficits in the face of the effect of the escalation of the conflict on civilians, as highlighted in paragraphs 61 to 70 above. The Independent 17