SLM’s Nur urges international pressure on Khartoum over 20 UNHCR staff
August 9, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) has slammed the silence of the international community over Khartoum’s refusal to renew the residence permits of 20 UN staff in Darfur, warning they would review their position on a peacekeeping force to be deployed in the region.
The unexplained refusal comes amid a worsening humanitarian situation as violence in the region continues 10 years after the start of the conflict. Tribal clashes have so far displaced over 300,000 people in Darfur this year, while thousands were forced to flee their areas after fighting between the army and rebel groups.
The US administration was the only government to support UNHCR’s demands calling for the immediate renewal of work permits to its staffers providing humanitarian aid to displaced civilians on the ground.
In statement extended to Sudan Tribune, al-Nur called up on the international community and regional organisations to step up pressure on the Sudanese government to reverse decision, stressing that the latest move will negatively impact on the humanitarian situation in Darfur.
According to the statement, the failure of international and regional communities to pressure Khartoum to renew the permits for UNHCR workers would lead the rebel group to reconsider its position on the joint African Union-United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) deployed in the region since January 2008 to protect IDPs and affected civilians.
“Simply because without humanitarian assistance our displaced families will die and there will be nothing left for UNAMID to protect”, the rebel leader said.
Al-Nur claimed international aid workers had been targeted since March 2009 as part of a concerted plan by the Khartoum regime to deliberately kill the survivors of genocide allegedly perpetuated by government militias.
In March 2009, the Sudanese government expelled 13 international aid groups working in Darfur after a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
The rebel leader said the motive of this policy is to ensure that “those who did not die from [government militia] Janjaweed attacks or aerial bombardment should die from thirst, hunger and diseases”.
The hybrid peacekeeping operation has been criticised by various rebel groups and the Sudanese government since its establishment.
UNAMID chief and joint peace mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas plans to meet rebel groups this month in a bid to reenergise ongoing efforts to end the Darfur conflict.
(ST)