The Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission has reiterated their refusal of unregistered humanitarian organizations operating in the country, noting that they operate under Sudan’s voluntary labour act and will be held accountable for violations.

In a press statement, the director general for NGOs and civil society organizations in the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission, Ali Adam Hassan, said: “Any organization working in the humanitarian field must abide by regulations and laws that grants and fundraising programs of organizations should be through a project document certified by the commission and in accordance with regulations and laws which govern the activities of organizations in the country."

He indicated that the commission requires that the humanitarian projects of all national, foreign organizations and UN agencies are channelled through technical agreements approved by the commission.

Foreign organizations are apparently also required to work in partnership with national organizations in the process of conducting and facilitating humanitarian work.  This, claimed Hassan, is in order to strengthen the project’s follow-up system.

Hassan also stressed that UN agencies must seek approval of their workplans and all organizations wishing to travel to the conflict-affected areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan must first obtain permission from the commission.

The Sudanese government has long restricted the work and movement of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies.  However, the on-going civil conflicts in the border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan have resulted in the authorities being particularly restrictive of activities in these areas amidst calls for increased aid by the residents.

File photo: Suleiman Abdel Rahman, Sudan's Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid

Related: PCP calls to allow aid in Kordofan, Blue Nile (14 February 2013)