The UN humanitarian chief told the Security Council last week that Sudan blames aid workers in Darfur for inappropriate political activities but in fact government does not tolerate people who speak about violation of humanitarian rights.
In a briefing before the UN Security Council Wednesday on his trip Sudan, Chad and Central Africa Republic, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes said Sudanese official repeatedly suggested the some NGOs engaged in inappropriate “political” activities in Darfur.
“This allegation usually appeared to refer to advocacy activities about the protection of civilians from abuse of their rights.” he explained.
Holmes furthermore considered such accusation as “insidious pressure on agencies and discriminations between supposed “good” and “bad” ones, to cease.”
He also told the council that Sudanese police officers raped on March 16, two young girls, a 10-year old girl and a12-year old girl in Tawilla camp in North Darfur.
The newly appointed UN relief chief visited Sudan for the first time at the end of March. The visited Southern Sudan as well as Darfur region. Holmes was barred by the Sudanese security service from visiting Kassab refugee camp, one of Darfur’s most violence-plagued refugee camp.
"I’m frustrated, annoyed, but it’s not atypical of what happens here," Holmes told journalists traveling with him.
During his meeting with the Sudanese officials, Holmes pressed Sudanese officials to grant better access to aid workers trying to help Darfurians amid widespread complaints that humanitarian groups face constant obstacles from the authorities in reaching victims of the conflict.
Darfur is the scene of the biggest aid operation in the world, with some 4 million people in full or partial need of outside aid in a bloody conflict between Darfur rebels, the government and the pro-government janjaweed militias.
More than 200,000 people have been killed and over 2 million forced to flee into refugee camps in four years of fighting, and the Arab janjaweed are accused of widespread atrocities against ethnic African civilians.