Exclusive: Sudan blocks UN agency from releasing child malnutrition data
The UN children’s agency (UNICEF) in the Sudan expressed concern that the Sudanese government “very often” bars the release of data on child malnutrition in Darfur. Nils Kastberg, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, said that the Sudanese security services have also hindered or delayed UNICEF’s access to camps in Darfur. Kastberg told Radio Dabanga: “Part of the problem has been when we conduct surveys to help us address issues, in collaboration with the ministry of health, very often other parts of the government such as the humanitarians affairs commission interferes and delays in the release of reports, making it difficult for us to respond timely.” UN cooperation with the Khartoum ministries like the Ministry of Health has failed to secure publication of the reports. The UNICEF country chief said “we are raising these issues with the government at the moment that the humanitarian affairs commission should not interfere with the release of these reports.” Kastberg also pointed out that certain government agencies hinder the entry of UNICEF staff into the camps. “Sometimes it is security services that hinder access or delay access, sometimes it is the humanitarian affairs office that delays the release of nutritional surveys. Sometimes it is delays in granting permissions and visas. It is different sections of different institutions which interfere in our work.” The UN and the Government of Sudan meet regularly in a high-level committee sanctioned by presidential decree. Kastberg noted, however, that such cooperation in Khartoum does not always bring about changes in Darfur: “Obviously we now have a more active high level committee on Darfur where we can raise these issues. It is important for us that if we agree on these things at the Khartoum level, we see changes at the local level.” The total population of Darfur’s internally displaced (IDPs) is 2,665,115, according to the UN’s 2010 Work Plan. The international aid agencies have been most active in Darfur since war began there in 2003, and millions fled attacks on their villages. Nils Kastberg has been the UNICEF Representative in Sudan since September 2009. He has worked with the agency since 1998. He is Swedish.
The UN children’s agency (UNICEF) in the Sudan expressed concern that the Sudanese government “very often” bars the release of data on child malnutrition in Darfur. Nils Kastberg, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, said that the Sudanese security services have also hindered or delayed UNICEF’s access to camps in Darfur.
Kastberg told Radio Dabanga: “Part of the problem has been when we conduct surveys to help us address issues, in collaboration with the ministry of health, very often other parts of the government such as the humanitarians affairs commission interferes and delays in the release of reports, making it difficult for us to respond timely.”
UN cooperation with the Khartoum ministries like the Ministry of Health has failed to secure publication of the reports. The UNICEF country chief said “we are raising these issues with the government at the moment that the humanitarian affairs commission should not interfere with the release of these reports.”
Kastberg also pointed out that certain government agencies hinder the entry of UNICEF staff into the camps. “Sometimes it is security services that hinder access or delay access, sometimes it is the humanitarian affairs office that delays the release of nutritional surveys. Sometimes it is delays in granting permissions and visas. It is different sections of different institutions which interfere in our work.”
The UN and the Government of Sudan meet regularly in a high-level committee sanctioned by presidential decree. Kastberg noted, however, that such cooperation in Khartoum does not always bring about changes in Darfur: “Obviously we now have a more active high level committee on Darfur where we can raise these issues. It is important for us that if we agree on these things at the Khartoum level, we see changes at the local level.”
The total population of Darfur’s internally displaced (IDPs) is 2,665,115, according to the UN’s 2010 Work Plan. The international aid agencies have been most active in Darfur since war began there in 2003, and millions fled attacks on their villages.
Nils Kastberg has been the UNICEF Representative in Sudan since September 2009. He has worked with the agency since 1998. He is Swedish.
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