The governor of South Kordofan in Sudan is downplaying his state’s humanitarian needs.
South Kordofan has been the topic of concern in the international community. A senior official at the U.S. Agency for International Development said 200,000 to 250,000 people are close to “running short of food” in the state.
The African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations are already working on an aid plan for the war-torn state. But Ahmed Haroun, the state’s governor, said there’s “no need for that.”
Haroun, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged participation in the massacre in Darfur, said the government provided enough resources for humanitarian needs. He suggested the international community should deal with the “war” instead.
“Let us deal with the real reason. Let us stop the war so we can be in a better situation to deal with the side effects,” Haroun said, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
His statements go against the international development community’s assessment of South Kordofan. Several organizations and journalists have highlighted the humanitarian crisis there as well as in the Blue Nile state, noting the growing rates of malnutrition and food shortage.
The United Nations has been — for months — asking Sudanese officials to allow full access to the states, including in rebel-held areas. The government has allowed several U.N. international staff members to return and assess the situation on the ground after barring them from the two states. The permission, however, does not extend to all conflict-affected areas.
Read more:
Human rights groups seek US-led aid effort in 2 Sudanese states
Sudan resists international pressure for full access to 2 states
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