Sudan expels French medical NGO

The government of South Darfur on Monday expelled Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World). The French NGO was working in the medical field in areas of Jebel Marra, a region largely cut off from aid.Governor Abdelhamid Kasha accused the French organization of cooperation with the armed movements. Kasha told Radio Dabanga that the organization violated its mandate in Darfur and that the period of its work ended in the region. The security authorities in Nyala had arrested 12 workers of the organization last Friday.

The director-general of the organization Pierre Salignon said that two international staff were evacuated to Khartoum to ensure their safety. He confirmed that the organization suspended its work in the region. Radio Dabanga learnt that authorities on Monday released ten local staff and kept two others under arrest.

The UN Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) responded to the arrests with concern. The spokesman Christophe Illemassene told a French news agency: “We’re already facing a situation where we fail to meet the humanitarian needs in Darfur.”