Criticism regarding inhumane treatment of needy people and aid workers in Sudan

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) criticizes Sudanese government's plans to introduce more regulations to restrict the work of international humanitarian and human rights organizations. "Anyone who silences and hinders international aid workers despite the disastrous famine is committing a crime against humanity," said the STP's Africa-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Friday. "The United Nations must take immediate action ton ensure that the international aid agencies can continue to provide help for the approximately 4.5 million needy in Sudan."

Sudan is trying to keep away international human rights organizations altogether. The STP fears that in future the aid organizations will have to pay more attention to the requirements of the government than to the people in need. "On one hand, the international aid workers are being forced to support the the Sudanese regime – on the other hand, Khartoum can get rid of annoying war eyewitness this way."

On Wednesday, the new provisions were announced by Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid after a meeting with President Omar al-Bashir. The detailed regulations governing the framework of action for international aid agencies are to come into force shortly.

"As the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, it is no surprise that foreign human rights activists are not very popular among those who hold power in Sudan," said Delius. However, Khartoum's official note saying that Sudanese human rights activists are welcome is a scam. The Sudanese authorities have led an unprecedented campaign since December 2012 – trying to defame, intimidate and ban the local human rights groups and to detain activists.

"So far, the aid organizations have tried to remain neutral in armed conflicts, to focus on helping those who are in need," said Delius. "Now, the situation for the 1.7 million war refugees in Darfur will grow worse." The authorities have already denied permission for 20 employees of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to work in Darfur, although the number of refugees has increased by more than 300,000 people since January 2013. Further, international aid workers were denied access to tens of thousands of needy people in the disputed provinces of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.