‘Procedures delaying work permits for UNHCR staff in Darfur’: HAC

The General Commissioner of the Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has denied that the government has expelled 20 staff members of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), citing “procedural delays”. In comments to Khartoum newspapers on Sunday, Commissioner Suleiman Abdul Rahman Suleiman said that “the 20 UNHCR staff have not been expelled, but procedures regarding permits related to humanitarian work in the camps for displaced persons are not yet complete”. Suleiman said that his Commission has sent a letter to the UNHCR asking them “to adjust the position of international staff as a condition to continue their work in Darfur,” stressing “the UNHCR must still conform to procedures”. The Commissioner did not further explain what procedures these were. As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, the UNCHR says that “despite extended follow-up with the relevant government authorities,” the work permits for 20 of its international staff based in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, have not been renewed. This has reportedly forced the agency to scale down its relief operations. File photo: UNHCR staff meet Darfuri refugees in Chad in April (M Antoine/UNHCR)Related:  USA: concerns on Khartoum’s ‘willingness’ to uphold Darfur treaty after UN restrictions (7 August 2013) Darfur relief operations hampered as 20 UNHCR staff expelled (6 August 2013) Sudan’s humanitarian aid commission announces new Darfur guidelines (1 March 2013) Foreign aid organizations to be expelled from Darfur (18 September 2012)