Humanitarian situation in Darfur severely deteriorating: UN
March 18, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – A team of emergency directors from various United Nations humanitarian agencies has described the situation in Darfur as “severely deteriorating” and disclosed that numbers of IDPs are increasing dramatically, revealing rampant cases of malnutrition throughout the restive region.
It declared that Sudan’s needs of humanitarian aid in 2014 are estimated at 6.1 million pound SDG, urging the international community to provide $995 million to meet those needs.
The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan Ali al-Zaatari, disclosed in a press conference in Khartoum on Tuesday that they received %8 of the total amount of money needed and urged the international community to assist South Sudan’s refugees, saying they are in need for assistance despite Khartoum’s decision to treat them as Sudanese citizens.
The UN director of humanitarian operations, John Ging, said the team assessed the situation in Darfur on the ground, pointing the number of IDPs exceeded 6.1 million people due to the deteriorating security situation.
The Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour who met with the UN emergency directors complained about the “negative practices” of rebel groups in Darfur.
Ghandour announced the possibility of agreeing on a code of conduct between them and international organizations concerned with the humanitarian work in Sudan in line with the country’s sovereignty.
He further said Khartoum is willing to boost cooperation and understanding with these organisations, in order to improve the humanitarian work in Sudan.
The Sudanese official who is the country’s chief negotiator briefed the UN delegation on the progress of talks with the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) on the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
(ST)