EU Commissioner Michel urges Sudanese to allow all international NGOs to carry-out humanitarian operations

Louis Michel said: "I am deeply concerned by the decision of the Sudanese authorities to revoke the operating licences of a number of leading international NGOs. If these and all other international NGOs are no longer authorised to work in the country, then the continuation of humanitarian life-saving operations in Darfur will be in serious jeopardy. This can have dramatic consequences: the very lives of hundreds of thousands of people would be at risk as these NGOs provide a lifeline to so many innocent people. I urge the Government of Sudan to reconsider the value of their decision, and to urgently restore these NGOs to their full operational status. Humanitarian aid is provided on a needs basis, in an impartial and non-discriminatory way to all Sudanese people affected by the conflict and such humanitarian action is clearly independent of any political or other agenda. It is essential that the humanitarian access and security be guaranteed. The European Commission has a long standing commitment to contribute to alleviate the suffering of millions of Sudanese people affected by conflict and disasters in Darfur and in other parts of Sudan through the work of professional humanitarian organisations".

Sudan's on-going humanitarian crisis receives the European Commission's single largest humanitarian funding for any country - an annual 110 million euros in assistance in 2009. More than 60% per cent of this aid is for Darfur. Working with leading international humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and many non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the aim of our funding is save lives and to stabilise the extremely harsh living conditions of 2.7 million internally displaced people and more than 2 million residents and nomads directly affected by the conflict.

| Haut |

• Sudan: EU Presidency Declaration on the announcement of elections (15/4/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: Humanitarian situation in Sudan (20/3/2009)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan (16/3/2009)
• EU Parliament resolutions on human rights in Guinea-Bissau, the Philippines, and Sudan (12/3/2009)
• Sudan: EU Presidency Declaration following ICC decision concerning the arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir (4/3/2009)
• Sudan: EU Presidency Declaration on First Round of Doha Talks on Darfur (20/2/2009)
• Sudan: EUHR Solana welcomes outcome of first round of negotiations in Doha on Darfur (18/2/2009)
• Sudan: EUHR Solana concerned about renewed fighting in Darfur (2/2/2009)