Restriction of humanitarian access in C. Darfur is a temporary measure: government

February 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to allow aid worker to reach affected civilians in Darfur adding that the denial of humanitarian access in Central Darfur state is a temporary measure imposed by the ongoing military operations in Jebel Marr area.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal al-Din Ismail, told reporters Sunday that the ban on the movement of aid groups in Central Darfur has been enforced in several areas according to the conditions of the military operations.

“But this ban is linked to a temporary situation on the ground,” Ismail further asserted.

“According to our information there is no blockade or restriction on humanitarian groups in the region unless there are (military) operations. And this a safety measure aiming to protect aid workers and their properties,” he added.

The ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the Abdel Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM/AW) in Darfur area of Jebel Marra since 15 January displaced over 38.000 civilians from the more than 60 villages, UN agency estimate.

Aid groups have been barred from reaching civilians in the war affected zones in Central Darfur where the government troops are currently concentrating their action on what they call the “latest pockets” of the groups fighters.

Speaking about the humanitarian situation in Central Darfur state, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the number of the IDPs is unclear as they are not allowed to reach war affected areas.

“The most recent government figures indicate that about 1,000 people have arrived in Guldo and Thur towns from Jebel Marra, however, indications suggest that the number of new IDPs may be significantly higher,” said OCHA in its weekly bulletin of 14 February.

(ST)