OCHA BRIEFING MARCH 20 ON SUDAN HUMANITARIAN

UNCLAS STATE 026297 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM AA SUBJECT: OCHA BRIEFING MARCH 20 ON SUDAN HUMANITARIAN SITUATION ¶1. USUN may draw from the following talking points as needed for the March 20 briefing by OCHA on the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Begin points: -- The United States reiterates its condemnation of the Government of Sudan's expulsion of 13 international humanitarian aid organizations from Sudan and its closure of three national aid organizations. This decision already has compromised the provision of health care, water, sanitation, and food to vulnerable populations throughout Darfur. -- This new crisis is the sole making of President Bashir, and puts millions at risk. It is unacceptable for any leader to treat his people in this way. In addition his increasingly threatening rhetoric against international representatives jeopardizes the safety of both the people who provide assistance and the people who receive it. -- The Government of Sudan bears responsibility for the consequences of this decision, which only exacerbates an already dire humanitarian crisis in Darfur and threatens the stability of the entire nation. This decision will not only cost lives, but it will also serve to further isolate the country. -- There is no justification for tying the denial of urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for President Bashir. The suggestion of trading an Article 16 deferral for food and water is repulsive. -- We urge the international community to press the Government of Sudan to reverse the NGO expulsion decision and to ensure further actions are not taken to worsen the situation. President Bashir must rectify this situation immediately. -- The United States is working as closely and intensively as possible with UN institutions and other member states with influence on Sudan to reverse the Government of Sudan,s expulsion order for NGOs. These organizations are critical to the survival of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other conflict-affected populations in Sudan. -- The Sudanese government must demonstrate its ability to shoulder the responsibility for the situation it has created. It will be held responsible for every death caused by its expulsion of aid workers. -- Those governments that support President Bashir's regime have a responsibility to persuade the Government of Sudan to reverse its decision or to replace the services provided by the expelled groups. -- The UN has reported a significant degradation in the capacity to provide food to malnourished children. Newly reported cases of meningitis in Kalma camp and the Jebel Marra area are reported as a result of a reduction in the capacity to deliver water and provide health services. This has led to concerns about the spread of infectious diseases in IDP camps and other areas that no longer have reliable access to effective health and nutrition services. -- Our Charg d,Affaires himself has witnessed the growing humanitarian crisis in Zam Zam camp in North Darfur, where resources are already stretched to the limit but displaced people continue to arrive. The continuing arrival of over 36,000 IDPs fleeing recent fighting in South Darfur between rebels and the government has strained camp resources to the limit. We urge the Sudanese Government, in close cooperation with the UN and the NGOs, to quickly address water, land and other issues at Zam Zam camp and other IDP camps across Darfur before the situation deteriorates any further. -- In terms of filling urgent gaps left by the expelled organizations, we support UNAMID, WFP, and others, efforts to provide urgent relief now, including desperately needed clean water. However, despite the willingness their efforts cannot even begin to fill the gap left by the expelled NGOs. Furthermore, the March 17 ambush of UNAMID peacekeepers in South Darfur, resulting in the death of a peacekeeper, underscores the conditions under which UNAMID operates in Darfur. We express our deepest condolences to the Mission and to the family of the peacekeeper, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting UNAMID in the implementation of its mandate. -- The U.S. has provided nearly $4 billion for humanitarian programs in Sudan and Eastern Chad since FY 2004. The United States has provided nearly $1.25 billion in humanitarian assistance to date for the people of Sudan in FY 2008 and FY ¶2009. This includes humanitarian assistance for returning refugees in South Sudan, assistance to Sudanese refugees in Eastern Chad, and humanitarian assistance to Sudanese people in Darfur, Southern and Northern Sudan. -- USAID has provided more than $720 million in humanitarian assistance to Darfur in FY 2008 and to date in FY 2009. The expulsions eliminated approximately 54 percent of USAID humanitarian nonfood programs (i.e. health, water, sanitation, etc.) in Darfur and 40 percent of the delivery capacity of USAID,s main food aid partner, the World Food Programme. -- The GOS must take action now to rectify the crisis it has caused. -- We are determined to pursue long-term peace in the Darfur region, ensure the ongoing delivery of humanitarian assistance, and improve the protection of civilians. End points CLINTON