Brussels, 26/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - European International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, deeply concerned that it is proving impossible for emergency aid to reach the vulnerable in South Kordofan, called on Friday 26 August for all parties immediately to allow full and unfettered humanitarian access to all those in need and for permission to be granted for the resumption of humanitarian missions. Sudanese President al-Bashir has announced a two-week unilateral ceasefire in this region, the status of which has yet to be decided, sitting as it does on the border between Sudan and the newly independent South Sudan and the EU is ready to increase its humanitarian aid to Sudan and South Sudan by €40 million, making these restrictions, which contravene international humanitarian law, all the more intolerable. “This temporary unilateral ceasefire can provide a window of opportunity to bring in much needed assistance. I am deeply concerned about the suffering of people caught up in the conflict in South Kordofan. Full, unimpeded access to these people by both international and national aid providers is needed to enable the delivery of vital assistance. With this in mind, we are urgently calling for all restrictions, administrative or otherwise, to be lifted”, the commissioner said.
In this, Georgieva reiterates the appeal made on 10 August by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton.
The commissioner strongly regrets that, despite their best efforts, the United Nations multi-agency assessment team has not been able to carry out its work in South Kordofan. It is estimated that some 200,000 people are in need of humanitarian aid. (A.N./transl.rt)