HRW calls to open medical access to S. Kordofan civilians
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Mukuma Hamad, a volunteer health worker, holds a container of folic
acid, the only assistance she can give pregnant women who visit the
lone health clinic in Hadara village, in rebel-controlled Southern
Kordofan (Skye Wheeler/ HRW Photo)
May 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Human Right Watch (HRW) has called to open
medical humanitarian access for civilians in the rebel-held area in
South Kordofan state pointing to women lack access to reproductive
health care, including emergency obstetric care.
In a report released on the situation of women in South Kordofan where
a war erupted in 2011 between the Sudanese army and Sudan People’s
Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), HRW said the obstruction of heath
care endangers women’s lives.
The report explained that women and girls cannot get contraception and
have little access to health care if they face complications during
pregnancy and childbirth.
“Women and girls in the Nuba Mountains are suffering and dying from
years without access to life-saving humanitarian aid,” said Skye
Wheeler, a women’s rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights
Watch.
“The Sudanese government and armed opposition need to put the people
first, and should immediately smooth the way for impartial and
independent aid agencies to reach the area,” she further stressed.
The Sudanese government and the SPLM-N have failed during the six-year
war to reach an agreement on humanitarian access and cessation of
hostilities.
The major point of discord that Khartoum refuses to allow direct
humanitarian access to the land-locked rebel-controlled areas saying
this will allow them to get weapons and ammunition.
Last August, the SPLM-N asked to have a direct safe humanitarian
corridor from Ethiopia to transport 20% of the humanitarian assistance
to its areas in the Blue Nile. Later on, they said such passage is
crucial to move the wounded and sick combatants for treatment abroad.
HRW called on the United Nations to investigate both parties’
obstruction of offers of impartial aid as a violation of the
international humanitarian law.
"The UN and others should consider individual sanctions against
commanders or leaders determined to be responsible for clear
obstruction of aid or any serious violations of international
humanitarian law and human rights law," said the human rights group.
Last November, the United States, which a facilitator of the African
Union-led peace process, proposed to transport directly medical
assistance to the rebel-held areas. Khartoum accepted the proposal but
the SPLM-N is still reluctant.
U.S. State Department officials continue their efforts to convince
both parties to accept the initiative.
The SPLM-N on Tuesday said they met in the Tanzanian city Dar es
Salaam with American officials on 23 May to discuss the humanitarian
access but they didn’t say if a progress has been registered.
(ST)
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