UN discusses with Sudan negative impact of recent decision to expel aid groups
June 15, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Ali Al-Za’tari urged Sudan to consult with the United Nations and aid groups before to stop humanitarian activities in eastern Sudan to avoid the negative impact of such decision on local population.
Sudan’s Humanitarian Commissioner Suleiman Abdel Rahman on Thursday 31 May issued a decision ending the humanitarian activities of the concerned groups in the three eastern states of Kassala; Red Sea and Gadaref.
The aid groups concerned by this decision include Accord, Goal, Triangle, save the Children, Plan Sudan, Malo, a British demining group, and the Japanese Association for Aid and Relief (AAR).
Za’tari announced on Friday he is conducting “extensive consultations” with the Sudanese officials to understand this decision, taking in account “the likely impact on the communities these NGOs were serving.”?
“I was ?hoping that there would be much greater consultation between the government and concerned ?parties such as the UN and humanitarian organizations on such a critical decision,” he said in remaks he released on Friday.
“I hope that this decision does not result in a major disruption of humanitarian and ?development activities in Eastern Sudan, undermining the constructive relationship that has been ?built between State authorities and international organizations,” he further pointed out.
He went further to express UN willingness to participate with the national authorities to assess the activities of the aid groups but also the impact of their projects on the concerned communities in order to “ensure a continuation of the important and vital ?programmes serving the region and its people.”
UN agencies and its partners from the humanitarian groups say their preliminary assessments show continuing ?need for humanitarian assistance in eastern Sudan.
(ST)