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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Aug 18 2010 - 13:29:26 EDT
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=11426812
Sudan to Deport Foreign Aid Workers
Sudan confirms planned expulsion of international aid workers from Darfur
for 'violations'
The Associated Press
Post a Comment By MOHAMED OSMAN Associated Press Writer
KHARTOUM, Sudan August 18, 2010 (AP)
Sudan's government confirmed Wednesday it will expel a number of
international aid workers from the restive western region of Darfur for
unspecified "violations."
U.N. officials earlier had said six staffers from international aid groups
had been told by local Darfur officials that their security could no longer
be guaranteed and they had to leave West Darfur.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to speak to the press, said it was a verbal order.
Expulsion orders from local officials is a new phenomenon for aid groups
working in Darfur and the latest sign of rising strains between the
international organizations and the government.
Those expelled worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross, the
U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization and its refugee agency, according
to the officials.
A spokesman for the Rome-based FAO confirmed an Eritrean man working as a
consultant was among those expelled Sunday, after he collected signatures
for an anti-hunger petition without consulting with local authorities.
Talks are under way between FAO representatives and Sudanese authorities to
guarantee his return after what appeared to be some sort of
"misunderstanding," the spokesman said, speaking on the condition of
anonymity because the talks were ongoing.
Foreign Ministry spokesman, Muwaia Khaled told the Associated Press the aid
workers were being deported individually, and the deportation does not
reflect on the organizations for which they work.
"Any organization that abides by the regulations and code set will be
respected," Khaled stressed. "There are indeed some violations committed and
this is the reason why they were expelled."
He did not elaborate on the nature of the offenses and said the Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs would disclose more later.
At a recent gathering, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir told local Darfur
officials that they can act independently "to expel and order out any
international organization or agency or any quarter that exceeds its
stipulated mandate or tries to obstruct the work of the local authorities
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