U.S. STATEMENT AT UNSC BRIEFING ON SUDAN

UNCLAS STATE 054410 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL SU UNSC SUBJECT: U.S. STATEMENT AT UNSC BRIEFING ON SUDAN ¶1. (U) This is an action message. USUN is authorized to draw from points in para 2 below following the UNSC Briefing by U/SYG John Holmes on the Humanitarian Situation in Sudan. ¶2. (U) I thank Under-Secretary General Holmes for his insightful briefing on the current humanitarian situation in Sudan. The United States wishes to express its profound appreciation to UN agencies and officials for assisting with humanitarian efforts throughout Sudan and working tirelessly to avert a humanitarian catastrophe following the Government of Sudan,s callous decision to expel 13 international nongovernmental organizations and to close three national relief agencies. These efforts seem to have prevented an immediate humanitarian crisis, though we are not yet out of the woods. Significant gaps in health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food still exist for long-term needs. According to an April UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, more than 32,000 households in Darfur are not expected to receive the previously planned food and livelihood support due to the NGO expulsions. The United States welcomes the Government of Sudan,s recent statement that three new non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be permitted to register in Sudan to fill key humanitarian assistance gaps. Having said that, we are disturbed by reports that the Government of Sudan is interfering with the operations of international NGOs. We are also concerned by reports that the Government of Sudan has not fully implemented its commitments to issue one-year, multiple re-entry visas for humanitarian workers. It is critical that the Government of Sudan fully and quickly implement its commitments to meet the humanitarian needs of its citizens, including by living up to its stated commitments to improve access for humanitarian NGOs. The rainy season in Sudan will be upon us in only two to five weeks, and the humanitarian agencies will require increased access and government cooperation to pre-position food assistance and emergency relief commodities. We also urge the Government of Sudan to restore critical NGO activity to the Three Areas as soon as possible. The increasing levels of insecurity in Darfur are profoundly alarming, particularly two kidnapping episodes since March 4 and almost daily car jacking incidents and compound invasions. It is the responsibility of the Government of 
Sudan to restore order for the protection of its citizens and the safety of aid operations. Along this vein, we press the governments of Sudan and Chad to maintain diplomatic ties despite recent tensions and to cease hostile activity towards one another, including support for each other,s rebel groups. The relationship between Sudan and Chad is essential to achieving a stable security environment in both countries. The United States is also deeply concerned about the loss of life due to recent clashes in North Darfur and about the safety of civilians and peacekeepers located in the affected area. We condemn the recent attacks by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on DPA signatory SLM/Minni Minawi, as well as subsequent attacks by JEM on Government of Sudan positions in North Darfur at Kornoi and Um Barru. In addition, the rising levels of inter-tribal violence in Southern Sudan are a cause for concern and action on the part of the Sudanese authorities. Such violence undermines the return of IDPs and refugees and the recovery of southern Sudan and, indeed, weakens the implementation of the CPA. The violence perpetrated by the Lord,s Resistance Army in southern Sudan as well as in the DRC and the CAR is of strong concern. To date, LRA attacks in the DRC and Sudan have created some 17,000 new Congolese refugees in Sudan and 30,000 IDPs. We urge continued cooperation among Uganda, Sudan, the DRC and the CAR in eliminating this scourge. We call on all parties to end the violence and re-engage in constructive discussion, as begun in Doha under the leadership of UN-AU Joint Chief Mediator Bassol, on how to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, and to do the same to address the insecurity in Southern Sudan and Chad. Thus far in FY2009, the United States has contributed more than $350 million in humanitarian assistance to help the people of Sudan. We continue to urge all parties to work together, in coordination with the Government of Sudan, to support NGOs and UN agencies undertaking the large and important task of filling humanitarian assistance gaps. The UN has made considerable headway on the three track plan U/SYG Holmes laid out in March. Though some gaps do remain, UN agencies and remaining NGOs have been flexible and dedicated to reaching as many civilians as possible with life-saving assistance. Strengthening the humanitarian architecture of Sudan is critical. We will continue to work closely with the UN, NGOs, other donors and relevant elements of the Government of Sudan to identify, track and address these humanitarian gaps. CLINTON