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------Original message------ From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> To: "Group" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, January 23, 2012 2:21:57 PM GMT+0300 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Aid to South Kordofan and Blue Nile It bears repeating that assurances from Khartoum are worthless until they have actually been implemented. John BEGIN 1. Sudan softens stance on foreign aid groups for Blue Nile and S. Kordofan January 22, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government appears to have softened its stance regarding the presence of foreign aid groups in the border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan where Khartoum is battling rebels belonging to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N). Sudan has been adamant that it will not allow the humanitarian agencies from working in the two states citing security concerns while other officials accused aid groups of contributing to the conflict there and prolonging it. The United States has warned of an imminent famine by March if Khartoum does not allow United Nations (UN) agencies and aid groups in by then. It was also reported that Washington is drafting plans for a unilateral intervention for the purpose of delivering aid to the needy in Blue Nile and South Kordofan. But the Sudanese government warned against any such move saying that humanitarian assistance should be provided only in coordination with Khartoum. The United Nations humanitarian chief Valery Amos visited Khartoum earlier this month to discuss the humanitarian situation in the two states and called on the government to allow UN and international aid workers to reach the rebel controlled areas. Amos also warned that food insecurity and malnutrition have reached "alarming" levels in areas controlled by the SPLM-N. She proposed that providing aid to the SPLM-N areas will be monitored by African and Arab figures. Today the Sudanese foreign ministry and Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) held a meeting with representatives of twenty aid groups including those from the UN and other international organisations. According to Sudan official news agency SUNA the government issued directives saying that all aid groups that were present before the fighting broke out in the two states will be able to continue working there under certain conditions. With regards to aid distribution, Khartoum ordered that this can only be done through HAC and the Sudanese Red Crescent. Also any infrastructure projects are to be implemented by the relevant ministries and local organisations. This rule also applies to social development projects. Representatives from the UN and other international organisations will be allowed to be present in the state capitals only after obtaining necessary permissions from the pertinent authorities who will determine the duration of the permit. Today’s decision seems to be seeking a middle ground on international demands of allowing full access to aid agencies. But it remains to be seen whether local groups are capable of effectively carrying out the aid distribution. The foreign ministry spokesman, Al-Obaid Marwih was quoted by SUNA today as saying that the government has been monitoring coordinated movement by “extremist groups” in the US to prepare the international arena for action in these two states. Marwih said that the US is ignoring the real cause behind the trouble, is who violated agreements and decided to continue to carry arms, in clear reference to the SPLM-N. He added that Sudan doesn’t mind a ceasefire in order to allow for the delivery of aid. The violence has already forced about 417,000 people to flee their homes, more than 80,000 of them to South Sudan, the United Nations estimates. Locals have faced air raids and sporadic ground fighting, according to human rights groups and refugees. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-softens-stance-on-foreign,41377 END1 2. Sudan to give UN only limited access in border states Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:33pm GMT KHARTOUM Jan 22 (Reuters) - Sudan will continue to allow only limited access to United Nations agencies and aid groups in two war-stricken border states, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, despite calls from the United States to allow more access to avert famine. Fighting broke out between government forces and rebels in South Kordofan in June last year, shortly before South Sudan declared independence under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war. The conflict spread to Blue Nile in September. Both states border South Sudan and are home to tens of thousands of fighters who battled Khartoum as part of the southern army during the civil war. Sudan accuses Juba of continuing to back the insurgents, which South Sudan denies. "Regarding relief, delivery and distribution will be through the humanitarian aid commission and the Sudanese Red Crescent society," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. U.N. agencies and aid groups have only been able to keep small teams of local staff on the ground since the conflict erupted. The government, citing security risks, has stopped aid workers from visiting areas where there has been fighting. The Foreign Ministry said office managers will only be allowed in state capitals and must obtain permission. The United States has pressed Khartoum to allow more humanitarian access to South Kordofan and Blue Nile, saying food security could deteriorate sharply by March if aid flows do not increase. Sudan's ambassador to the United Nations dismissed the concerns on Tuesday, saying the situation in the two states was "normal." The violence has already forced about 417,000 people to flee their homes, more than 80,000 of them to South Sudan, the United Nations estimates. Locals have faced air raids and sporadic ground fighting, according to rights groups and refugees. (Reporting by Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by Sophie Hares) http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E8CM0DE20120122 END2 3. Sudan reiterates rejection to authorise aid in war zones January 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government has reaffirmed its rejection at any attempt to deliver aid in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states outside the purview of its authority. Khartoum refuses to allow foreign aid groups into the two states on the borders with South Sudan, where its army has been fighting rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) since last year. According to the United Nations (UN) humanitarian chief, Valery Amos, food insecurity and malnutrition have reached "alarming" levels in areas controlled by the SPLM-N in the two states. Amos visited Sudan last month and requested the authorities to allow aid groups into the regions, but Khartoum rejected the request, citing security concerns. The US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, this month called for putting pressure on Khartoum to authorize humanitarian assistance in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, prompting the government to accuse her of wanting to feed the rebels. "Conflict has affected more than 500,000 people, and if there is not a substantial new inflow of aid by March of this year, the situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile will reach Stage 4 of an emergency, which is one step short of full scale famine," Rice said. Princeton Lyman, the US special envoy to Sudan, warned during his visit to South Africa this week of a humanitarian disaster in the two states. Another US official, quoted on condition of anonymity by the United Arab Emirates based The National newspaper, said that his country is “actively planning” to deliver aid in the two states. “We are simply not going to sit back and watch while 100,000 people starve to death," he said. But Khartoum has reiterated its rejection at any US attempt to exceed its authority. In statements carried on Friday by Sudan’s official news agency SUNA, the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Suliman Abdul Rahman cast doubts on the information cited by Rice on the situation of the population in rebel controlled areas. The Sudanese official demanded that Rice reveals the source of her information on the humanitarian situation in the SPLM-N controlled areas. He also said that the US should clearly explain the motives behind its calls for delivering aid without the involvement of the local authorities. Abdul Rahman stressed that Khartoum would not allow the scenarios that protracted the war in South Sudan to be replicated in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. UN agencies estimate that some 417,000 civilian were forced to flee the war zones in the two states. It is also estimated that over 80,000 refugees are now in the neighbouring South Sudan. Clashes broke out in South Kordofan over allegation of fraud in regional elections and fears of forced disarmament of the SPLM-N fighters who fought alongside neighbouring South Sudan during the war against the north. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-reiterates-rejection-to,41359 END3 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 82 853 3556 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. 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