Rights watchdog urges Arab states to press Sudan on Darfur aid
March 29, 2009 (NEW YORK) — Arab League has to press Sudan to reconsider its decision on the expulsion of foreign aid groups from the country, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released on Sunday.
Hours following the ICC arrest warrant against President Omer Al-Bashir on March 4, Sudan ordered out 13 aid groups accusing them of cooperation with the world court. The eviction will affect some 2.7 IDPs from next May despite the efforts exerted by the UN and Sudan to fill humanitarian gap.
“The Sudanese leadership has sunk to a new low by ousting humanitarian organizations from Darfur in retaliation for the ICC’s warrant against Al-Bashir,” said Richard Dicker, director of Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program. “The League of Arab States could help save thousands of lives by pressing Khartoum to reverse the expulsions.”
The 22-nation Arab League will hold Monday its 21th summit in the Qatari capital Doha where President Omer Al-Bashir has arrived today. The Arab head of states are expected to adopt a strong stance supporting the indicted President after the ICC decision against him.
Further Human Rights Watch called on the Arab League to send a mission to Sudan to investigate for itself the full impact of the expulsion of aid organizations.
Neither the Arab League nor the African Union has commented publicly on the expulsion of aid agencies. Both have raised suspension of the ICC prosecution of Al-Bashir based on article 16 of the ICC’s statute.
“The Arab League should not reward Sudan’s behavior by supporting a suspension of Al-Bashir’s case, which would only encourage further abuses,” said Dicker.
The 13 expelled air groups were supplying food and water to 1.1 million people and medical care to 1.5 million. The government also forcibly closed three Sudanese aid and human rights organizations.
(ST)