New Red Cross agreement with Sudan government
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today signed a newly revised country agreement. The legal document formalises relations between the Sudanese authorities and the Red Cross, and will replace a previous agreement dating from 1984, the ICRC announced in a press statement today. The Sudanese authorities suspended Red Cross activities in Sudan on 1 February, citing technical issues, and asked the organisation to review the country agreement that sets out its legal and diplomatic status in the country. Currently, the Red Cross is discussing with the Sudanese authorities the practical arrangements for restarting its humanitarian operations in the country. “Negotiations have been constructive in recent weeks, and the signing of a new country agreement is a positive and essential step towards resuming our humanitarian work in Sudan, “said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, who heads the Red Cross delegation in Sudan. “We hope to conclude our dialogue with the authorities soon”. “The revised agreement sets forth the ICRC’s legal and diplomatic status in the country, and continues to recognise our organisation’s mandate, which is to assist and protect victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence,” explained Mr Sandoz. “This type of agreement is not specific to Sudan; the Red Cross has similar accords with about 100 other countries around the world.” In 2013, about 1.5 million people in Sudan benefited from aid provided by the Red Cross. “Our staff are eager to pick up where they left off, helping people in conflict-stricken areas”, Sandoz said.The Red Cross has been working in Sudan since 1978 and extended its operations to Darfur in 2003. The organisation’s mandate is set out in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, to which Sudan, along with 194 other States, is party. File photo (ICRC) Related:‘Suspension has severe humanitarian impact’: Red Cross in Sudan (20 May 2014)Parliamentary committee demands Sudan suspend Red Cross curbs (13 February 2014)Red Cross suspension ‘death sentence for Darfur’: Omda (3 February 2014) Sudan suspends all Red Cross activities (31 January 2014)
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today signed a newly revised country agreement.
The legal document formalises relations between the Sudanese authorities and the Red Cross, and will replace a previous agreement dating from 1984, the ICRC announced in a press statement today.
The Sudanese authorities suspended Red Cross activities in Sudan on 1 February, citing technical issues, and asked the organisation to review the country agreement that sets out its legal and diplomatic status in the country.
Currently, the Red Cross is discussing with the Sudanese authorities the practical arrangements for restarting its humanitarian operations in the country. “Negotiations have been constructive in recent weeks, and the signing of a new country agreement is a positive and essential step towards resuming our humanitarian work in Sudan, “said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, who heads the Red Cross delegation in Sudan. “We hope to conclude our dialogue with the authorities soon”.
“The revised agreement sets forth the ICRC’s legal and diplomatic status in the country, and continues to recognise our organisation’s mandate, which is to assist and protect victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence,” explained Mr Sandoz. “This type of agreement is not specific to Sudan; the Red Cross has similar accords with about 100 other countries around the world.”
In 2013, about 1.5 million people in Sudan benefited from aid provided by the Red Cross. “Our staff are eager to pick up where they left off, helping people in conflict-stricken areas”, Sandoz said.
The Red Cross has been working in Sudan since 1978 and extended its operations to Darfur in 2003.
The organisation’s mandate is set out in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, to which Sudan, along with 194 other States, is party.
File photo (ICRC)
Related:
‘Suspension has severe humanitarian impact’: Red Cross in Sudan (20 May 2014)
Parliamentary committee demands Sudan suspend Red Cross curbs (13 February 2014)
Red Cross suspension ‘death sentence for Darfur’: Omda (3 February 2014)
Sudan suspends all Red Cross activities (31 January 2014)
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