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