US Senators urge Sudan to allow humanitarian aid to rebels’ areas
March 30, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — The US Senate on Thursday adopted unanimously a resolution urging the Sudanese government to authorise aid groups to work in the areas held by Sudanese rebels but also asked the warring parties to cease hostilities.
The bipartisan resolution demands Khartoum allows “immediate and unrestricted” humanitarian access to Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states where the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) have fought the government since June 2011.
The fight affected hundreds of thousands of civilians and many fled the war zones. However, the Sudanese government refuses to establish humanitarian camps for the displaced population in the areas under its control to avoid a repetition of Darfur camps where many camps are controlled by the rebel supporters.
Khartoum also refuses to give a green light to international aid workers to access the areas held by the SPLM-N rebels mainly in the Nuba Mountains. The government says the rebels are holding civilians hostage and preventing them from moving away from the war areas. Many have moved to refugees camps in South Sudan.
“I am pleased the Senate has joined the United Nations and others in the international community in calling on the Sudanese government to allow desperately needed humanitarian assistance to reach the more than 250,000 people in the region facing emergency food shortages,” said Senator Chris Coons, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, who introduced the resolution earlier this month.
The UN, African Union and Arab League proposed to allow international aid workers to work in the rebel areas flanked by African and Arab monitors too ensure that the humanitarian assistance reaches only the affected civilians.
The bill also calls on the Sudanese governments and SPLM-N rebels to sign a cessation of hostilities and to engage talks for a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Khartoum says it is considering the tripartite proposal but asked to put pressure on the SPLM-N rebels to commit to a ceasefire and negotiations.
The rebels refuse to sign a ceasefire saying they can only do it when the distribution of humanitarian aid requires such measure.
The senators also asked Khartoum and Juba to refrain from supporting “proxy forces” alluding to the rebel groups allegedly backed from both sides. Last week Washington and London released public statements calling on the South Sudanese government to stop its support to the Sudanese rebels.
(ST)