Statement attributable to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari
KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 15, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Referring to the recent decision of Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission to terminate the projects of seven international non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) in eastern Sudan by the end of June 2012, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, said that he has been carrying out extensive consultations to better understand the reasons for this decision, given the likely impact on the communities these NGOs were serving.
“While I appreciate the efforts being made by the Government to build national capacities, I was hoping that there would be much greater consultation between the government and concerned parties such as the UN and humanitarian organizations on such a critical decision,” Mr. Al-Za’tari said.
Preliminary assessments by the United Nations and its partners indicate that there is a continuing need for humanitarian assistance in the east and that cooperation in delivering this assistance is essential.
“I hope that this decision does not result in a major disruption of humanitarian and development activities in Eastern Sudan, undermining the constructive relationship that has been built between State authorities and international organizations,” he said.
The Humanitarian Coordinator said that should the UN be asked, it is ready to participate with the Government in a joint effort to assess the work of these organizations and the impact of their projects on local communities, in order to ensure a continuation of the important and vital programmes serving the region and its people.
SOURCE
United Nations – Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
