Aid Agencies Kicked Out of Sudan

No one expected Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to welcome his ICC arrest warrant with open arms and words of apology…but his response today was unbelievable.

The Sudanese government ordered up to 10 humanitarian groups to leave Darfur and took possession of the agencies’ assets.

According to a UN spokesperson, groups expelled include –

The main providers of life-saving humanitarian services, such as water, food, health and sanitation. Their departure will have an immediate and serious impact on the humanitarian and security situation in North Sudan and especially in Darfur.

Oxfam America was among those agencies kicked out. The group and its 450 staff members in Sudan bring aid to 600,000 people in the country.

Oxfam released a statement today confirming that its license to operate in North Sudan was revoked and it intends to appeal the decision.

Oxfam’s International Director is urging the Sudanese government to reverse the expulsion –

Oxfam is an independent, impartial non-governmental organization, with absolutely no links to the ICC. Oxfam does not have an opinion on the Court’s activities, and our sole focus is meeting humanitarian and development needs in Sudan.

One can only hope that humanitarian groups will be invited to return to Darfur. The people of Sudan have already suffered devastation beyond belief. Items like food and water are currently so hard to obtain – without aid agencies, they will be downright impossible to obtain.

President Bashir, I am not sure whether the ICC’s arrest warrant makes you fearful or angry (or both). However, I am sure that you cannot deal with the feelings by lashing out against the people of Darfur.

They did not charge you with crimes against humanity – they lived your crimes against humanity.