Sudan-South Sudan humanitarian deal expires in June: official

April 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) Friday said the humanitarian corridor agreement between Sudan and South Sudan will end by 30 June, 2016.

The two countries signed a MoU in July 2014 to allow the expedition of aid across its borders and through river transportation to feed thousands of impacted civilians.

In August 2014, representatives from the governments of Sudan and South Sudan approved an operational plan to open a humanitarian corridor between the two countries.

The plan, which was developed and prepared by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), sought to deliver close to 63,000 metric tonnes of life-saving food assistance to 744,000 people in the northern parts of South Sudan who have been affected by the conflict in South Sudan since December 2013.

HAC commissioner in the White Nile state Salah Taj al-Sir said the technical committee has dispatched eight convoys carrying 2159 tones of relief supplies to South Sudan since last January.

He told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the humanitarian work is being carried out smoothly in coordination with the WFP and Sudan Red Crescent (SRC) as well as other partners.

On 27 February, the humanitarian corridor agreement has been extended until September 2016.

Taj al-Sir stressed that the humanitarian aid would be delivered to South Sudan until the middle of this year according to the agreement signed between the two nations and the United Nations agencies.

He pointed that the aid is being delivered from Kosti dry port in Sudan to Al-Rank town in South Sudan, saying it is also delivered by land through Al-Kuwaik and Gudat al-Adl crossings.

Sudan has closed its borders with South Sudan last March over charges that Juba continues to support Sudanese rebels.

(ST)