Though the United Nations has vowed to
its peacekeeping forces in Sudan, millions of lives remain in peril without vital humanitarian assistance from non-governmental organizations ejected by Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir following his
by the International Criminal Court.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
"vital peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights and development operations and activities in Sudan" will continue. But without lifesaving services provided by aid organizations now forced out of Sudan, such efforts are undeniably undermined.
George Rupp, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, said the organization is
over the shutdown of its operations that give medical care, water, sanitation and education services to 1.75 million people – 650,000 in Darfur and 1.1 million in north and east Sudan.
"We have been delivering aid to vulnerable people in Sudan for 28 years and remain committed to helping Sudanese communities across the country recover and rebuild," Rupp added.
Medecins Sans Frontieres was similarly
by its expulsion from the country without explanation, which will leave 200,000 people without medical care. MSF pointed out that its services is badly needed now that meningitis has broken out in Kalma Camp, home to more than 90,000 internally displaced persons. Another 70,000 people in Muhajariya will lose access to health care, along with 3,000 people whom MSF treats in Feina each month.
"It is absurd that we as an independent and impartial organization have been caught up in a political and judicial process," said Arjan Hehenkamp, operational director of MSF Holland.
CARE also
the cancellation of its registration to operate in Sudan where it has been providing aid for 28 years.
"We are assessing what this means for the 1.5 million people who now receive food, water, sanitation, livelihood and health assistance from CARE," the relief group said.
Meanwhile, some 200,000 people in the Darfur region stand to lose lifesaving services from Mercy Corps, which include keeping camps clean, training health promoters, building and supplying schools and providing skills training to women and other vulnerable people.
Mercy Corps President Nancy Lindborg
concerns of humanitarian organizations in Sudan.
"This is a devastating blow to the many people of Sudan who rely upon NGOs for both immediate survival, and help in building more prosperous and stable futures for their families. We sincerely hope that this decision will be reversed so we can get back to the critical business of saving and improving lives," Lindborg said.
Oxfam and Femmes Africa Solidarité have also been reportedly included in the expulsion.
Though aid organizations have insisted their impartiality on political or religious issues – stressing that their mission in Sudan is purely humanitarian – reasonable voices don't seem to be heard over the din of
.