Expelled relief groups re-apply to return to Sudan under new names

Jun 11, 2009, 16:49 GMT

New York - The United Nations said Thursday some of the 13 humanitarian groups expelled from Sudan's Darfur region have re-applied under new names and are likely to be accepted by Khartoum.

The Sudanese government expelled the 13 groups in March in retaliation for the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s decision to seek the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir, who was accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the ethnic conflict in Darfur.

The UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, said four groups have re-applied to return to Darfur under 'slightly changed' names. It was not known what the new names are, but the groups that were kicked out included Care International, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and PADCO, a construction company.

Holmes met with the UN Security Council in an open session to discuss the situation in Sudan, saying Khartoum has taken steps to improve access and security in regions in Darfur reputed for attacks against relief groups and for crimes that include kidnappings, rape and killing.

He called on Khartoum to open the doors to relief groups and to work with the United Nations to alleviate the plight of Darfurians. He said a total of 4.7 million of them are beneficiaries of assistance from from the relief groups, including the 2.7 million people displaced by the fighting since 2003.

Holmes said the UN agrees to work with Khartoum for the so-called 'Sudanisation' of humanitarian work. Khartoum has in the past preferred Sudanese relief groups over foreign ones. It has also preferred African peacekeepers over non-African ones.

'The government has helpfully made clear that 'Sudanisation' does not and will not entail the disappearance of international aid organizations,' Holmes said in an address to the council. 'It is in any case important, as I reminded the government, that local partners be credible and professional, and able to work with all sections of society in an important manner.'