Sudan rejects humanitarian surveys in rebel-held areas of South Kordofan

May 16, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government will not recognise humanitarian surveys conducted by foreign aid groups in rebel-controlled areas of South Kordofan State, an official announced on Wednesday.

Khartoum has been blocking humanitarian assistance from reaching areas held by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) since the conflict in South Kordofan broke out in June last year.

Sudan has also been denying the existence of a humanitarian crisis in the region and in February this year, the government said it conducted a survey that covered 43 villages in the state and found the humanitarian situation in them to be within normal levels.

Also in February, the UN Security Council issued a statement expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation in the state and calling on Sudan and the rebels to allow delivery of aid.

Suliman Abdel-Rahman Suliman, Sudan’s humanitarian aid commissioner, said at a press conference held in Al-Damar town that the government would not accept any other assessment of the situation, especially by foreign aid groups operating in rebel-held areas.

He added that the SPLM-N should bear responsibility for the civilian population living under its control.

Suliman further reiterated Khartoum’s reservations over a tripartite initiative involving the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and the Arab League (AL) to facilitate the delivery of aid in the region, saying it “undermines Sudan’s sovereignty.”

However, the Sudanese official indicated that the government is willing to form a joint humanitarian team with the AU, UN and AL on the condition of an immediate cessation of fire and hostilities in the region.

But the SPLM-N, which already signed the tripartite initiative, has dismissed Khartoum’s calls for ceasefire as a political propaganda.

SPLM-N’s spokesman Arnu Loddi told Sudan Tribune that they don’t accept any dictation of terms on the part of Khartoum which, according to him, should sign the tripartite initiative first if it was really concerned about the humanitarian conditions of civilians.

Loddi also accused the Sudanese government of having no genuine desire for a ceasefire or a negotiated settlement to the conflict, citing continued aerial bombardment of civilians in South Kordofan by the Sudanese army.

SPLM-N is in control of approximately five localities in the state but no figures are available for how many civilians are living there. UN estimates that more than 200,000 citizens of South Kordofan have been displaced since the conflict began.

(ST)