Sudan revokes permits of relief groups

Mar 4, 2009, 18:49 GMT

New York - The British relief group Oxfam confirmed Wednesday that its license to operate in northern Sudan was revoked by the Sudanese government.

The United Nations reported six to 10 other groups had also lost their right to continue humanitarian work after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir.

Oxfam said it was appealing the decision, hoping for a quick resolution.

'If Oxfam Great Britain's registration is revoked, it will affect more than 600,000 Sudanese people whom we provide with vital humanitarian and development aid, including clean water and sanitation on a daily basis,' said Penny Lawrence, Oxfam's international director.

It said 400,000 of the Sudanese it aids are 'affected by the ongoing conflict in Darfur - where people continue to flee from violence and the humanitarian needs remain enormous. It will also affect another 200,000 poor people in the east of the country and Khartoum state.'

Oxfam began its operation in northern Sudan in 1983 and currently has 450 staff, 90 per cent of whom are Sudanese.

The UN headquarters in New York said Khartoum revoked the registrations to work of between six and 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the same day the International Criminal Court at The Hague issued a warrant to arrest al-Bashir. The ICC charged him with crimes against humanity and war crimes in connection with the killings in Darfur.