Darfur rebel group JEM deny reports on blocking humanitarian access
March 4, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — A Darfur rebel group issued a statement today refuting claims made by a UN official about blocking humanitarian access to an area which witnessed intense fighting with Sudanese army.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan Ameerah Haq accused Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of denying aid workers entry into the Jebel Moon area of West Darfur.
“This morning we were supposed to have an assessment to go there but we were actually denied access by JEM and therefore we are calling on JEM to give us that access,” she told the British Broadcasting Corporation in an interview.
But JEM said in a statement that they have not “received any formal request to grant access to any humanitarian agencies or aid workers”.
It is not clear why the UN and JEM gave contradictory versions on the incident. Sudan Tribune was not able to reach any JEM official for clarification.
Haq said she is concerned about the civilians in the region describing them as “trapped”.
However JEM said that they have “no interest to decline applications or deny full access to aid workers intending to help victims forced to flee as a result of the deadly assaults by the GoS [Government of Sudan] and its proxy Janjaweeds”.
“JEM guarantees unimpeded access and opening of humanitarian corridors to affected area in Jebel Moun under its control for all humanitarian agencies and aid workers” the statement read.
But the rebel group urged humanitarian organizations to go through “official channels to minimize delays”.
The UN refugee agency says 13,000 refugees fled into Chad from Darfur since the Sudanese army and its Janjaweed militia allies began heavy bombardments of rebel strongholds around the Jebel Moon area on February 8.
The Sudanese military last month described the area — not far from El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state — as a “legitimate” military target.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died in the conflict, which Washington calls genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use. The Sudan government says 9,000 people have been killed.
(ST)