Sudan extends permission for NGOs to continue activities in Darfur
January 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has extended the authorization for the humanitarian organisations working in Darfur for one more year. This extension aims at enabling aid workers to continue to carry their activities in the troubled region.
The Higher Committee for Coordinating Humanitarian Aid in Darfur met Wednesday under chairmanship of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Haroun Lual Ron Deng, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Ameerah Haq. It approved a number of procedures in the fast track to facilitate and enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid for Darfur.
Sudanese government has renewed the moratorium of the International humanitarian organisations in Darfur until January 2009. The government gave assurance that NGOs community would be able to continue their work without interruption and would facilitate resources at state level for the extension of visa.
In a press statement after the meeting, the Commissioner General for Humanitarian Aid, Hassabu Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, said that the committee will hold a meeting with the international organizations operating in Darfur which number 200-210 to acquaint them with the new work procedures and the decision of the renewing the fast track.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Ameerah Haq, appreciated renewing of the fast track, saying that the UN welcomes the extension.
The Commissioner General for Humanitarian Aid said that agreement was reached on the continuity of the joint assessment of the organizations operating in Darfur through the annual and technical reports and the field teams.
The meeting was attended by a representative of the Sudanese Red Crescent on behalf of the national organizations, the British Ambassador as representative of the Western donors and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates as representative of the Arab donors.
The Higher Committee for Coordination of Humanitarian Aid in Darfur was established in the year 2004 following issuance of the joint communiqué which was signed by Sudan government and the United Nations.
(ST)