AU chief welcomes Sudan’s acceptance of humanitarian access to conflict areas

July 2, 2012 (JUBA) – The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission has welcomed the Sudanese government acceptance of the tripartite proposal by AU, United Nations and the Arab League to allow access and provision of humanitarian assistance to the war-affected civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

Jean Ping, in a statement, underscores the importance of this development, seen as build-up to the AU’s 24 June roadmap, and reiterated the Commission’s firm support for the proposal that will now ensure the affected population have access to humanitarian assistance.

Continued efforts, he said, remain on course to seek long lasting remedies to the conflict, which has displaced over 150,000 civilians into neighboring South Sudan.

The AU Commission chair, however, urged all those responsible to ensure that the provisions of the tripartite proposal are effective and fully implemented without delay, to facilitate humanitarian operations in the two affected states.

Ping outlined the AU’s readiness to contribute personnel to the joint teams that will be tasked with undertaking a rapid humanitarian assessment mission in all affected areas.

He also expressed the organization’s willingness to contribute monitors, adding that the joint team and monitors will work very closely with the Sudanese parties to ensure neutrality, impartiality, accountability and transparency in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“The Chairperson of the Commission acknowledges the fact that the Sudanese parties remain the primary guarantors of the safety and security of all humanitarian staff and observers deployed in these affected areas,” partly reads the AU statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, Ping reiterated the AU’s continued commitment in assisting the Sudanese parties, through the Thabo Mbeki-led AU High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP), in finding a lasting solution to their challenges.

Both Sudan and South Sudan, under the facilitation of the AUHIP, are currently engage in post-independence talks aimed at resolving several outstanding issues. These include citizenship, border demarcation, security, oil and the disputed Abyei region.

According to Ping, a political settlement in line with the AU roadmap
is the only long-term solution to the crisis between the two neighboring nations.

(ST)