The Sudanese authorities have lifted the suspension of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

According to an ICRC new release yesterday, the Red Cross and national authorities are still in discussions on the practical arrangements for coordination between the two sides.

Sudanese authorities suspended the ICRC's activities in the country on 1 February, citing technical issues.

“The lifting of the suspension while the dialogue continues is a positive step,” Jean-Christophe Sandoz, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan stated. “It will allow us to resume our humanitarian work and our aid will again reach conflict- and violence-affected people. This is good news.”

“Our priority is to have our staff back on the ground as quickly as possible,” Sandoz said.

“As the humanitarian situation has changed since February, we will start by carrying out assessments of needs in conflict areas. We will then decide on what can be done, and re-adapt our capacity accordingly.”

The Red Cross has been working in Sudan since 1978. It extended its operations to Darfur in 2003.

File photo: Red Cross technicians repair a hand pump in Jebel ‘Amer, North Darfur, November 2013 (Tim Yates/ICRC)