Red Cross to resume humanitarian work in Sudan

The Sudanese authorities have lifted the suspension of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Discussions on practical arrangements to promote effective coordination between the humanitarian organisation and the country’s authorities are still to be concluded, according to an ICRC news release issued today. The authorities suspended the ICRC’s activities in the country on 1 February, citing technical issues. “The lifting of the suspension while the dialogue continues is a positive step,” Jean-Christophe Sandoz, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan stated. “It will allow us to resume our humanitarian work and our aid will again reach conflict- and violence-affected people. This is good news.” After being absent for seven months from conflict-affected areas, the Red Cross will re-initiate a dialogue with everyone involved in or affected by the conflicts to ensure that they accept its neutral and impartial work. “Our priority is to have our staff back on the ground as quickly as possible,” Sandoz said. “As the humanitarian situation has changed since February, we will start by carrying out assessments of needs in conflict areas. We will then decide on what can be done, and re-adapt our capacity accordingly.” The Red Cross has been working in Sudan since 1978. It extended its operations to Darfur in 2003. File photo: Red Cross technicians repair a hand pump in Jebel ‘Amer, North Darfur, November 2013 (Tim Yates/ICRC) Related: New Red Cross agreement with Sudan government (28 August 2014)‘Suspension has severe humanitarian impact’: Red Cross in Sudan (20 May 2014)