Sudan, SLPM-N fail to meet over polio campaign
November 4, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government and SPLM-N delegations did not meet in Addis Ababa on Monday to discuss the technical arrangements including a cessation of hostilities before to launch polio vaccination campaign in the rebel held areas.
The campaign is supposed to start on 5 November in the whole South Kordofan state including the areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North.
Also the Sudanese government and rebels had to sign a humanitarian truce a day before on 4 November in a meeting convened by the chairperson of the AUHIP, former President Thabo Mbeki.
However the SPLM-N negotiating team issued a statement on Monday saying they did not travel to Addis Ababa because the government delegation declined to participate in the humanitarian discussions.
“The SPLM-N learned that the Sudan government failed to travel to Addis Ababa, claiming that the invitation did not reach them. This is the second time for them to fail to attend a meeting called by the AUHIP”, reads the statement.
The rebel group further urged to condemn the Sudan government for “using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war”, adding they used to practice it in the Darfur and other areas in the country.
Sudanese government since last September refused to negotiate a cessation of hostilities agreement with the SPLM-N saying an unilateral declaration plus a commitment to the UN and its partners, African Union and Arab League are enough.
The SPLM-N, in return, says any matter related to the two areas should only be handled by AUHIP which is mandated by the African Union and the UN Security Council.
A humanitarian official in South Kordofan state said the SPLM-N bears the responsibility of delaying the start of the campaign in the rebel areas.
South Kordofan humanitarian commissioner Haroun Abdallah stated on Monday the government took all the needed preparations including the declaration of the cessation of hostilities stressing the SPLM-N has not been responsive to these measures.
Heath director general in South Kordofan, on the other hand, said they are ready to hand over the vaccines directly to the SPLM-N humanitarian teams and to cooperate with them to ensure the success of the campaign.
The SPLM-N said they do not trust the participation of the Sudanese humanitarian body and proposed to involve the UN mission deployed in Abyei (UNISFA) to transport the vaccines to their areas.
(ST)