27/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - Returning from a visit to Sudan with a delegation of the European Parliament's Development Committee, Nelly Maes (Greens/EFA, Belgium) expressed indignation at the Sudanese government's refusal of international assistance. The MEP, who visited the Darfour region and several refugee camps, commented: "The government of Sudan tells us that they want peace (…) yet refuses international assistance. We saw on our visit, for example, that Médecins Sans Frontières was being hampered from aiding some one hundred thousand undernourished refugees in the El Fasher region. The people demand water, food, peace and safety and their government fails them on every count". Six hundred thousand refugees are on the road, Ms Maes warns (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.7, for the declaration by the Irish Presidency).