Sudan says ejected aid workers are involved in ICC decision
March 5, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The head of Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) asserted today that his government has decided to expel 13 humanitarian organizations helping some 4.7 people in Darfur because they were involved in the ICC decision against the President Omer Al-Bashir.
HAC Chief Hasabu Mohamed Abdel-Rahman said in a press conference held today in Khartoum that a number of these organizations to have cooperation agreements with the International Criminal Court, others reported to the court against the government, and some NGOs had sent a number of witnesses to the ICC through its aircrafts.
According to the United Nations, the foreign NGOs concerned by this measure are: Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Care International, CHF International, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, both the French and Dutch branches of Médecins sans Frontières, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam GB, Solidarite, PATCO and Save the Children Fund of both the United Kingdom and the United States.
He further said his administration decided to dissolve two national NGOs because they violated humanitarian law and committed some financial breaches without elaboration. The Khartoum Center for Human Rights and Amal Center for Rehabilitation of Violence Victims were involved in the legal defense of IDPs in Darfur particularly in the cases of rapes and aggression against the displaced in general.
Sudanese authorities demanded that some organizations turn over a list of their assets and banking details, and some have had computers, communications equipment and vehicles confiscated, said Catherine Bragg, the UN’s Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Sudan has freezed the banking account of Khartoum centre since February 25.
Sudan decided to expel these NGOs yesterday following the decision of the ICC judges to make an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
President Al-Bashir said, during a cabinet meeting, that they decided to expel these foreign organizations after monitoring of activities incompatible with the law and regulations of the humanitarian work.
Human Rights Watch said today that the NGOs expulsion puts the lives of more than 1 million people in Darfur at risk. It also said that it seems this decision was planned well in advance of the ICC warrant being issued.
Ban Ki-Moon stressed is a statement issued on Thursday that the ejected NGOs provide impartial humanitarian assistance. He also showed concern for the safety and security of staff members of the aid groups, stressing that the confiscation of their equipment, money and other materials, which has been reported, “is unacceptable and must end immediately.”
On the other hand, Bragg pointed out that “these agencies are vital implementing partners for the UN and account for at least half of the humanitarian capacity in Darfur.”
She further said “We are even more deeply concerned about the welfare of the 4.6 million conflict affected people in Darfur. With loss of these NGOs, 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.1 million will be without health care, and over 1 million without potable water.”
(ST)
yasuck
Sudan says ejected aid workers are involved in ICC decision
Ejection of NGOs will cause Khartoum dearly and the consquences are going to be dire. This escalation will make things worse for Al-Bashir. These actions are signs and symptoms of panic. They are going reacted more and more in a bad, but still Al-Bashir is gonna be arrest. He’s a working dead man. There is no ways he going to escape those charges. The better way for him is to surrender himself to the Hague
kuduhal
Sudan says ejected aid workers are involved in ICC decision
The arrest warranty was dedicated to Mr president not to NGOS nor any citizen in sudan.
Bashir any further lost of lives in darfur will be on your hand and the ICC judge is going to add more years for you to stay in an international cell.
the question is ‘If all humantarian agencies expel in sudan will you feed these multitute population?
Just go with your foolish protesters and riot at the headquarter of ICC not in sudan.
Otherwise you will breaches rioting rules
MA minus opportunity.
Mr Point
questions for Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs Commission
The people who go to the press conference must ask the head of Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs Commission how Sudan will help the refugees after the aid agencies go home.
What is the Sudan government plan for the welfare of the 4.6 million conflict affected people in Darfur?
How will Sudan, which exports food, feed 1.1 million people will be without food aid?
How will it provide health care to the 1.1 million who will be without health care?
How will it get water to over 1 million without potable water?
These are the questions to ask the head of Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs Commission?