The United States of America slammed Sudan’s refusal to renew the residence permits of UNHCR staffers who are woring significantly as humanitarian workers of the African country.
The visas of twenty staffers have not been renewed, despite extended follow-up by UNHCR.
With the news stirring headlines, the US Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki today made the announcement that the United States joins the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in urging the Government of Sudan to immediately renew the necessary work permits for the twenty UNHCR international staff providing humanitarian assistance.
She underlines that the US government recognizes the significant tasks of the staffers in protection to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict in Darfur.
She says the failure to renew UNHCR staff permits is particularly unfortunate. The move is not timely as it comes in the context of deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions in Darfur and the forcible displacement of over 300,000 persons this year.
“This will affect UNHCR’s ability to conduct its critical, lifesaving programs in several sectors including health, emergency shelter and provision of non-food items.” – Ms. Psaki
In addition, Ms. Psaki highlighted that this recent tightening of restrictions on humanitarian actors in Darfur, including UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations, raises serious concerns about the Government of Sudan’s willingness to uphold the promises it made in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, and raises questions regarding the viability of this peace accord.
Ms. Psaki calls on the Sudanese Government and all rebel groups to engage without preconditions in an effective and inclusive political process to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The US called on the Government of Sudan to allow UNHCR and all humanitarian actors unfettered humanitarian access to all parts of Darfur to protect and to assist the victims of the conflict and to support the implementation of the peace agreements.
Ms. Psaki stressed that the people of Darfur deserve peace and stability now.
September 27 agreements
In September 2012, the United States of America hailed the agreements between Sudan and South Sudan on security, oil, financial, nationality, and trade issues.
The leaders of both countries signed a cooperation agreement after talks in the Ethiopian capital that began on Sunday.
The agreements include an oil deal last month ensuring the resumption of oil exports.
In addition, both parties also agreed on a demilitarised border buffer zone where troops must withdraw 10 kilometres from the de facto line of control along the disputed frontier.
Sudan and South Sudan struck a deal to share their oil wealthEarlier in August 2012, Sudan and South Sudan have finally struck a deal on how to share their oil wealth.
Reports say the parties have agreed on all of the financial arrangements regarding oil.
The two countries were given August 2 deadline by the United Nations to solve disputes from border security to oil payments.
The oil impasse between two countrieshas lasted more than six months.
Earlier in June 2012, Sudan and South Sudan made significant progress to end hostilities.
The forces of South Sudan have completely pulled out of Abyei, so that the forces of Khartoum, the SAF forces are also now out of Abyei.
In addition, South Sudan has recently completed withdrawal processes of its police forces from the disputed Abyei to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing roadmap of the Africa Union Peace and Security Commission.
South Sudan reportedly complied with all aspects of resolution 2046, which calls on both sides to resume negotiations on post-partition issues and signed pact with three months.
The United States of America also welcomed the redeployment of all Republic of South Sudan Police Services out of the Abyei Area.
The US said the withdrawal of police forces in Abyei is an important step toward ending the border dispute with Sudan.
