US assails Sudan for hindering Darfur relief efforts
WASHINGTON, June 14 (AFP) — The United States Monday renewed harsh criticism of the Sudanese government for allegedly hampering relief efforts in its war-torn western region of Darfur and demanded Khartoum move to remedy the situation.
“We’re deeply concerned that, despite assurances from the government of Sudan that they are providing the humanitarian access, that there is, in fact, still considerable blockages to getting aid to the people in need,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
He said Khartoum continued to deny the release of vehicles needed to transport food and other assistance to Darfur, was refusing in some cases to release communications equipment needed to by relief workers to coordinate their work, and delayed the distribution of foreign food which has been sent by ship to Port Sudan.
In addition, Boucher accused Sudanese authorities of continuing “to harass or delay humanitarian workers seeking to administer to the needy” and noted with disapproval a resurgence of attacks on transport routes used by aid agencies which has driven up the cost of moving assistance.
“The United States calls on the government of Sudan to facilitate the provision of the humanitarian assistance, including immediate release of all vehicles and equipment and of all food shipments bound for Darfur,” he told reporters.
Boucher also called on Khartoum and Darfur’s two rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement to respect the terms of a humanitarian ceasefire, demanding anew the Sudanese authorities rein in pro-government Arab militias accused of rampaging through the region.
An estimated 10,000 people have died since rebels complaining of government neglect of their impoverished region launched an uprising in Darfur in February 2003 and were met with fierce retaliation by government and the militias, known as “Janjawid.”
An estimated one million people have been displaced in Darfur and 130,000 others have fled across the border into Chad. UN agencies have described the Darfur crisis as the world’s biggest current humanitarian problem.
The UN Children’s Fund said earlier it was “deeply concerned about the growing vulnerability of the vast displaced population in Darfur, now estimated at some one million people, half of them children.”
Nearly all face food shortages, outbreaks of disease, exploitation, and the rainy season, which has just started, it said.