Global Arab Network | Sudan invites more aid groups to Darfur

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

Sudan invites more aid groups to Darfur

Sudan's government says it will invite new aid groups to work in Darfur and allow those still operating there to expand their activities. The Sudanese government said that it would consider applications from American aid organizations to replace more than a dozen groups that were expelled from Darfur.

The UN's head of humanitarian affairs welcomed the move.

Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups in March after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Meanwhile, the backer of a conference on Darfur says it may be cancelled because of opposition from Sudan.

Sudan had agreed last month to allow some aid back into Darfur following its expulsion of humanitarian groups.

On Thursday, the minister for humanitarian assistance, Haroun Lual Ruun, said Khartoum would invite new non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to Darfur.

He also said it would allow those UN agencies and NGOs remaining in the Sudanese region to "expand their existing operations".

"We have also agreed to further improve the NGOs operating environment by easing travel and visas restrictions, by reviewing the need for individual technical agreements for NGOs," he said.(bbc)

The Darfur conflict started in 2003 when mostly ethnic African rebels took up arms against the government, complaining of neglect and discrimination. Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million displaced in the conflict, according to U.N. figures. Sudan says the numbers are exaggerated. (bbc)(AP)

Global Arab Network

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network