Sudan summons EU official over “false information” on humanitarian situation
July 28, 2015 (KHARTOUM) -Sudan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday has summoned the European Union (EU) acting ambassador in Khartoum to protest against false information published by the EU commission regarding the humanitarian situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
According to a press release issued by the foreign ministry, the director of the peace and humanitarian affairs at the ministry, Ali al-Sadiq, summoned Tuesday the EU’s acting envoy to Khartoum to protest against Stylianides statement.
“The (Stylianides) statement included false information about the increasing number of refugees and IDPs and about the general humanitarian situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile” the press release reads.
It added that al-Sadiq conveyed to the EU official Sudan’s categorical rejection for the misleading and erroneous information contained in the statement, stressing the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile have been calm for several months.
The Sudanese army has been fighting Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.
Al-Sadiq briefed the EU official on efforts made by the Sudanese government in coordination with the government of South Sudan and the World Food Programme (WFP) to receive and accommodate South Sudanese refugees in Sudan.
He also pointed that the WFO has allocated Sudan’s quota to the needy population in South Sudan.
Al-Sadiq emphasized to the EU official that Sudan has accepted the tripartite initiative made by the United Nations, Arab League and the African Union to deliver humanitarian aid to Blue Nile and South Kordofan, saying the SPLM-N rebels declined to accept the initiative.
The Sudanese diplomat further said his government received more than 500 visa and entrance permission requests from the UN humanitarian and development workers during the first half of 2015, stressing that %95 of those request have been approved.
He pointed to the need for refraining from publishing false information, underscoring Sudan’s readiness to cooperate with the EU in the various humanitarian work domains.
Twelve years after the start of Darfur conflict, UN agencies estimate that there are over 3 million IDPs in the western Sudan region.
They further say about one fifth of Sudan’s population, approximately 6.6 million people, is estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance pointing to high level of malnutrition and lack both infrastructure and basic public services.
Also since December 2013, over 190,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in Sudan.
(ST)