‘Suspension has severe humanitarian impact’: Red Cross in Sudan

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regrets that it has not been allowed to resume its work in Sudan. The organisation expressed concern that the suspension of its activities for more than three months will have severe consequences for the Sudanese population in the war-torn regions of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. In a news release issued on Sunday “We are increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in some parts of the country and are calling on the Sudanese authorities to lift the suspension -be it on a temporary basis while discussions take place- in order that the humanitarian needs of people benefiting from ICRC programmes can be addressed,” said Eric Marclay, ICRC head of operations for East Africa. Last year, some 1.5 million people in the country received ICRC aid. The activities of the Red Cross were suspended on 1 February by the Sudanese national Humanitarian Aid Commission. The commission cited technical issues, while the Sudanese government asked the ICRC to review the legal agreement dating back to 1984 that sets out the organisation’s legal and diplomatic status in the country. “We remain ready to meet with the authorities to complete the negotiations and resume our activities,” said Marclay. Marclay announced that after a suspension of 15 weeks, the Red Cross will have to significantly downsize its delegation in Sudan. “We deeply regret having to lay off 195 of our 650 Sudanese staff, but we have no choice.” Neutrality The ICRC stressed that it has “always worked with total transparency and in strict accordance with its mandate in Sudan. In order to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, it is imperative that the principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality be adhered to. This requires a dialogue with all parties to the conflict and impartial help to all people in need, both in areas controlled by the government and in areas controlled by armed opposition groups. The ICRC’s mandate is laid down in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, to which Sudan is party, along with 194 other States”. Over the past two years, the ICRC, in its role as a neutral intermediary, has facilitated the release of over 200 people, including South Sudanese prisoners of war, members of the Sudan Armed Forces, and civilians, held by armed opposition groups. Aid In 2013, more than 426,000 Sudanese living in areas affected by conflict received food aid from the ICRC, and over 325,000 received farming tools and seed. Nomadic communities in Darfur were supported with vaccination campaigns for more than a million animals. The Red Cross improved access to clean water for more than 708,000 people in Darfur. More than 72,500 patients visited ICRC-supported health facilities last year and over 1,400 persons injured in armed clashes were treated with medical supplies provided by the Red Cross. Throughout Sudan, over 6,100 physically disabled people, many of whom lost their limbs as a result of fighting, received services from ICRC-supported limb-fitting and physiotherapy centres. File photo: Darfuri children (ICRC) Related: Parliamentary committee demands Sudan suspend Red Cross curbs (13 February 2014) Red Cross suspension ‘death sentence for Darfur’: Omda (3 February 2014) Strict new rules for foreign organisations in South Darfur (3 February 2014) Red Cross hopes to resume work in Sudan ‘soon’ (2 February 2014) Sudan suspends all Red Cross activities (31 January 2014)