Sudan denies existence of flight ban over Darfur

June 13, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today denied the existence of a flight ban in Darfur but acknowledged that some “protective measures” have been taken to protect aid workers.

The European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, speaking to Reuters after a four-day visit to Sudan, said Sudanese authorities had turned down 26 of more than 30 recent requests for aid road trips in South Darfur state.

Georgieva was misquoted by Reuters earlier as referring to a flight ban rather than a road trip ban.

“We are calling on the government to allow the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations that are key to get into more remote areas,” she said by phone from Kampala. “One in five or one in six requests were granted… They have to shift more towards access being the rule rather than the exception.”

The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Muawiya Osman Khalid said Sudan is keen on carrying out its duties toward its citizens and fulfill its commitment with regard to reaching the needy people and to provide them with food and humanitarian services at any place.

He said that authorities mean to protect aid workers and their properties by measures it imposed in some parts of Darfur.

Sudan’s mostly desert Darfur region is seven years into a conflict that started in 2003 when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against Sudan’s government, demanding more autonomy.

Aid groups set up the world’s largest humanitarian operation to care for hundreds of thousands driven from their homes by the rebellion and a fierce counter insurgency waged by government troops and allied, mostly Arab, militias.

Violence spiked after Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels suspended their participation in peace talks in May. U.N. figures showed almost 600 people died in rebel and tribal clashes that month, mostly in southern and central Darfur, making it the region’s bloodiest month for more than two years.

“The fact is that insecurity is worsening and that the populations in the camps is increasing as a result of more people fleeing more dangerous areas… Darfur must not be forgotten,” said Georgieva

Aid groups said this week Sudanese security forces blocked flights and road trips in Darfur, stranding staff and stopping food deliveries.

(ST)