Norway protests Sudan’s dismissal of Darfur aid group

OSLO, April 4, 2006 (AFP) – Norway officially protested Tuesday to the Sudanese authorities, calling “totally unacceptable” their refusal to renew the mandate of a Norwegian aid group to work in the biggest refugee camp in the war-torn region of Darfur.

“Our ambassador in Khartoum sent a note of protest to the Sudanese authorities, in which it is written that Norway is very concerned by the situation and that it considers it totally unacceptable,” Raymond Johansen, secretary of state at the Norwegian foreign ministry, told AFP.

Sudanese authorities Monday had refused to extend the mandate of the Norwegian non-governmental organization Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which directs the main Kalma refugee camp in Darfur sheltering some 100,000 people.

“The decision of Sudan is all the more unacceptable in that it affects the most fragile group of the population; that is, displaced persons,” Johansen said.

The head of the NRC’s international division Jens Mjaugedal earlier warned that “all humanitarian aid destined for 100,000 children and adults will be deprived of management and coordination” in the camp following the decision.

Although other NGOs will remain in the camp, NRC’s departure will cause coordination and supply problems for medicines and food, he said.

No explanation was given for the decision not to renew the group’s mandate, which expires Tuesday, he said.

The western region of Darfur has been afflicted for three years by a civil war between rebels and pro-government Arab militias, which has left between 180,000 and 300,000 people dead and two million homeless.

Mjaugedal told AFP he feared for the safety of refugees who were at risk from attacks by pro-government Janjaweed militias which target black civilians.