Sudanese government denies access to aid agencies in Southern Kordofan

Sudanese government denies access to aid agencies in Southern Kordofan

2011-08-31 19:14:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

KADUGLI, SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- Over 200,000 people affected by the recent violence in Sudan's Southern Kordofan face extreme levels of malnutrition and mortality after the government has denied access to aid agencies, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

For the past six weeks, the Sudanese authorities have been denying permission to international aid groups to replenish stocks and deploy personnel to help thousands of people affected by recent fighting between Government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

Last week, Sudan announced through its UN envoy that the government would let six UN agencies enter South Kordofan under the supervision of the country's humanitarian coordinator to assess the situation. However, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir later said he had ordered the authorities not to allow a single foreign agency into South Kordofan, cancelling the UN assessment mission.

"The crisis in South Kordofan has reached a critical point," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said in a statement. "Essential supplies have been completely depleted in many parts of South Kordofan, leaving many people in a life-threatening situation without any prospect of relief."

"Unless there is an immediate stop to the fighting, and humanitarian organizations are granted immediate and unhindered independent access throughout South Kordofan, people in many parts of the State face potentially catastrophic levels of malnutrition and mortality," Amos added.

Amos welcomed the recent distribution of relief supplies in the state capital of Kadugli but voiced concern that other parts of Southern Kordofan remain cut off, with more than 200,000 people prevented from receiving aid.

"The Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N must lift restrictions on humanitarian organizations so they can provide timely and effective assistance to people in need," she concluded. "Unless aid is delivered in sufficient quantities now, the consequences will be severe."

The UN warning comes a week after President Al-Bashir announced a two-week ceasefire between Sudan's army and the SPLM-N rebels.

Earlier this month, the UN urged for an independent investigation into possible crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Kadugli and elsewhere in Southern Kordofan state during clashes in June.

According to a UN report, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and illegal detention, enforced disappearances, attacks against civilians, looting of civilian homes and destruction of property took place in the region, resulting in massive displacements.

Southern Kordofan lies in Sudan but borders the newly independent South Sudan, which became the world's newest country when it broke away from Sudan on July 9.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-31