UN Sudan investigates expulsion NGO from Darfur after staff arrested

The governor of South Darfur, Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha, told Radio Dabanga that he will ban the international NGO Médicins du Monde from Darfur. Last Friday, twelve staff workers of  Médecins du Monde working in central Darfur were arrested in Nyala by security officers. According to the general director of Médicins du Monde, Dr. Pierre Salignon, two international staff members have been transferred to Khartoum, fearing for their safety. He also stated that the duties of Médicins du Monde have been suspended. On Monday, ten staff members were released, two remain in detention.

UN OCHACH is in charge to coordinate the humanitarian efforts in Darfur. The UN-OCHA spokesman Christophe Illemassene explained to Radio Dabanga that the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Georg Charpentier, is reviewing ‘the expulsion of Médicins du Monde’ from the area, the detention of the staff and is investigating the case. He is currently seeking contact with the Khartoum authorities. Médicins du Monde refused any comments so far.

Last Friday, at least twelve staff workers of  Médecins du Monde working in central Darfur were arrested in Nyala. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, the governor announced a press conference. He stated that the staff workers were arrested as their mandate had finished in Darfur. He accused Médicins du Monde of ’immoral behaviour’ for cooperating with rebel movements in the area. The NGO works in the area controlled by the SLM faction headed by Abdel Wahid al Nur. The South Darfur governor did not give any details about the whereabouts of the detained staff workers of Médicins du Monde.

After the arrests last Friday, two international staff members fled the scene and were in hiding at the compound of the UN OCHA. According to a police source, the staff workers are accused for collaborating with the rebel leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Abdel Wahid al Nur. The French based NGO was almost the last NGO present, providing services for the mountainous area of Jebel Marra.

Médicins du Monde has been supporting five health centres providing primary healthcare and offering  curative consultations, pre- and post-natal care, assisted deliveries, nutritional monitoring, vaccination and health education. In 2010 it prepared to expand its programme after the work in and around Deribat became almost impossible, due to attacks of the government. The organization started to develop an additional programme around Feina and Golumbai with an estimated population of 160,000 people. The arrest comes shortly after the organisation started to develop a programme for providing institutional support to the South Darfur health authorities in the government controlled areas.