DIPLOMATS were last night attempting to persuade the Sudanese government to change its mind after it ordered the heads of two of the UK's largest aid agencies out of the country. Amid a rapidly worsening security situation in Darfur, Khartoum's actions were seen as an attempt to silence Oxfam and Save the Children staff who had drawn attention to some of the worst recent atrocities. Abdel Khaliq Al-Hussein, Sudan's acting Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner, wrote to Save the Children's country director, Kate Halff, and Oxfam's country programme manager, telling them to get out. "It has been decided to consider you persona non grata for the management of your organisation in Sudan. Therefore, you must leave the country within 48 hours," he said. | An humanitarian of the first order, truly. |
The Sudanese government accused Oxfam of encouraging the rebels by condemning a UN Security Council resolution for its "weakness" on Darfur, and calling on the European Union to exert pressure on Sudan to stop the violence. The United Nations said it was pressing Khartoum to reverse the decisions. "We are very concerned about this situation, particularly given the important role played by the two NGOs in alleviating the suffering of the people in Sudan, particularly Darfur," said Elisabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman in Geneva for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. | As if anyone in Khartoum gives a rat's arse about the people in Darfur. |
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