For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C. – The Government of Sudan’s expulsion of more than a dozen non-governmental organizations from Darfur has put the lives of over a million displaced people at risk. It should immediately rescind its decision and allow these organizations to resume operations. The Government of Sudan notified agencies of the revocation of their registration in Sudan and their expulsion immediately after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir.

"The Sudanese government’s decision continues a long and distressing pattern in Darfur of using innocent and vulnerable civilians as pawns in international politics," said Joel Charny, Vice President for Policy at Refugees International.  "This reckless action further deprives the people of Darfur of their human rights.  The domestic and international aid organizations expelled from Darfur account for over 50% of the humanitarian assistance in the region, providing vital food, medical care and clean water to over one million displaced people. If the decision is not rescinded quickly, organizations will be unable to pre-position food before the rainy season starts. The effects of expelling aid agencies are particularly devastating in Darfur, since people in the displacement camps are totally dependent on outside assistance, and have no access to alternative sources of income, health care, and clean water."

The reaction of the Government of Sudan to the ICC decision to indict President Bashir also raises the dangerous possibility that the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will be further jeopardized. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was reached in 2005, ending a 21-year civil war between North and South Sudan. It requires a number of steps to be taken by both parties, leading up to a referendum on independence for the South in 2011. Critical steps which need to be completed in the coming months include border demarcation and nationwide elections, which are supposed to take place later this year.

"President Bashir should not use the charges levied against him by the ICC as an excuse to abandon his responsibilities to ensure peace throughout Sudan," added Charny. "The Government of Sudan must fulfill its commitments within the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, resolving difficulties in good faith negotiations with the Government of Southern Sudan."

Refugees International is a Washington, DC-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises. In February and March of 2009 the organization traveled to southern Sudan to assess the humanitarian situation inside the country. For more information, go to http://www.refugeesinternational.org.

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Contact: Vanessa Parra
+1-202-540-7025
vanessa@refugeesinternational.org