Over 200 Sudanese aid groups ready to replace ousted organizations – NCP

March 8, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling party has stressed the readiness of more than 200 national volunteer organizations to replace any foreign organizations expelled from the country.

Following the announcement of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir on March 4, Sudan retaliated by expelling 13 foreign aid groups and the dissolution of two other national NGOs.

Khartoum alleged that the 13 groups were working with the ICC on its investigations in Darfur crimes.

The Secretary of Organizations at the ruling National Congress Party, Mahdi Qutbi told reporters that a number of national NGOs are now settled in the premises of the expelled foreign organizations which were working in the areas of food, water and health.

He pointed out that the Sudanese Red Crescent is tasked with providing food in the three states of Darfur as well as health services in West Darfur state.

Mahdi further said that Islamic African Agency, Lubna and Massar organizations are tasked with water services in North Darfur while Humanitarian Aid for Development, Zubair Organization for Humanitarian Aid, Islamic Medical Association, and an Egyptian mission are in charge of health services in the state.

With regard to South Darfur state, the NCP prominent member said that the World Health Organization and the state ministry of health will provide the health services as Islamic Call Organization, Al Sakyia, Rahid Al-Fursan, and Relief and Development Association are tasked with the water services in the state.

However, United Nations agencies working in Sudan said in a joint statement issued yesterday that the expulsion of the aid groups “will have devastating implications for the citizens of Darfur.”

“These organizations provide a lifeline to 4.7 million people in Darfur alone, and millions more in other areas of Northern Sudan. While some 85 international NGOs operate in Darfur, without these organisations much of the aid operation literally comes to a halt,” said the statement.

Likewise, an individual associated with the aid effort told Sudan Tribune yesterday that “the humanitarian operation was just destroyed. There isn’t a humanitarian operation at this point; there is a remainder that will try to cover, but those who were removed were fundamental to everything.”

However, Mahdi ruled out any possibility for the return of ousted aid groups to work in Darfur.

Today, the Sudanese government and the United Nations agreed to send a technical team on Wednesday to the three states of Darfur to assess the needs in the areas of food, health and shelter.

The two sides held several meetings in the last few days, during which they discussed the humanitarian situation in Darfur in the wake of the government’s decision to expel a number of organizations from the country.

(ST)