Sudan

Not wanted: foreign aid organisations in Sudan's Darfur

Article published on the 2009-03-16 Latest update 2009-03-16 17:12 TU

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir addresses soldiers in the capital Khartoum, March 16, 2009.
photo: Reuters

Sudan's president, Omar el Beshir has said that his country doesn't need foreign aid organisations any more in Darfur. He says he wants them out by next year. agency Médecins Sans Frontières - or Doctors Without Borders - Britain's Oxfam, and the US aid agency Care, make up about half the humanitarian aid capacity in Darfur. The United Nations has said that more than a million people have already been affected by the expulsions, with that figure set to rise dramatically if the seventy remaining international NGOs are also told to pack their bags.

Sudan's president, Omar el Bashir has said that his country doesn't need foreign aid organisations in Dafur.

"In one year we don't want any foreign aid organisation working on the ground with our citizens and Sudanese organisations will fulfil this role," Beshir said.

He suggested that even if the aid organisations were no longer required, their relief food, medecine and equipment is. He said,"If they want to bring in aid, they will have to leave it at the airport." 

He was addressing a rally in the capital Khartoum attended by thousands of Sudanese soldiers who renewed a pledge to defend Beshir "to the death."

Sudan expelled thirteen foreign humanitarian aid agencies from Darfur after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on 4th March against Beshir.

The organisations concerned, including the French aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières - or Doctors Without Borders - Britain's Oxfam, and the US aid agency Care, make up about half the humanitarian aid capacity in Darfur.

The United Nations has said that more than a million people have been affected by the expulsions, and that this figure would rise dramatically if the seventy remaining international NGOs are also sent packing.