Parliamentary committee demands Sudan suspend Red Cross curbs
An emergency parliamentary committee convened to investigate the issue surrounding curbs placed on the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan, has called on the government to lift the suspension. Speaking to reporters in Khartoum on Thursday, the deputy-chairman of the committee, Mohamed Ahmed El Fadul, said that he had discussed the causes of the suspension, imposed at the end of January, with representatives of the Red Cross. “The Red Cross confirmed that they operate independently according to international humanitarian law, however, it became impossible for them to move anywhere in Sudan without a prior permit from the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).” Fadul said that his committee wants to ensure that the work and services provided by the Red Cross in Sudan are not disrupted. He said that in spite of the difficulty, HAC must harmonise local and international law. He expects a reconciliation within one month. However, an official of the ICRC said that ICRC has proposed to the government of Sudan through its Permanent Mission in Geneva, that the suspension be lifted allowing for ICRC’s humanitarian work to resume, while in the meantime a six-month time limit has also been suggested to continue a dialogue, which should settle the issues that have been cited by the HAC as reasons for suspension. Displaced Hussein Abu Sharati, spokesman for the Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that the suffering of the people of Darfur has been severely exacerbated after the expulsion of the international organisations. After the expulsion of the organisations, services have declined by 80 percent. “Citizens and displaced people face daily killings, displacement, hunger, disease, and other problems. He called on the international community to take immediate action. File photo: The Red Cross in Sudan (ICRC) Related: Red Cross suspension ‘death sentence for Darfur’: Omda (3 February 2014)Strict new rules for foreign organisations in South Darfur (3 February 2014) Red Cross hopes to resume work in Sudan ‘soon’ (2 February 2014) Sudan suspends all Red Cross activities (31 January 2014)
An emergency parliamentary committee convened to investigate the issue surrounding curbs placed on the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan, has called on the government to lift the suspension.
Speaking to reporters in Khartoum on Thursday, the deputy-chairman of the committee, Mohamed Ahmed El Fadul, said that he had discussed the causes of the suspension, imposed at the end of January, with representatives of the Red Cross.
“The Red Cross confirmed that they operate independently according to international humanitarian law, however, it became impossible for them to move anywhere in Sudan without a prior permit from the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).”
Fadul said that his committee wants to ensure that the work and services provided by the Red Cross in Sudan are not disrupted. He said that in spite of the difficulty, HAC must harmonise local and international law. He expects a reconciliation within one month.
However, an official of the ICRC said that ICRC has proposed to the government of Sudan through its Permanent Mission in Geneva, that the suspension be lifted allowing for ICRC’s humanitarian work to resume, while in the meantime a six-month time limit has also been suggested to continue a dialogue, which should settle the issues that have been cited by the HAC as reasons for suspension.
Displaced
Hussein Abu Sharati, spokesman for the Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that the suffering of the people of Darfur has been severely exacerbated after the expulsion of the international organisations.
After the expulsion of the organisations, services have declined by 80 percent. “Citizens and displaced people face daily killings, displacement, hunger, disease, and other problems. He called on the international community to take immediate action.
File photo: The Red Cross in Sudan (ICRC)
Related:
Red Cross suspension ‘death sentence for Darfur’: Omda (3 February 2014)
Strict new rules for foreign organisations in South Darfur (3 February 2014)
Red Cross hopes to resume work in Sudan ‘soon’ (2 February 2014)
Sudan suspends all Red Cross activities (31 January 2014)
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