- The UN Security Council has pleaded with the Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir to reconsider his decision of expelling 13 foreign aid agencies from the war torn Darfur region.
The Security Council has also reiterated the importance of continuing the peace process in Darfur and urged all the rival Sudanese parties to return to the negotiations table to resolve the Darfur crisis.
President Al Bashir who was issued with a warrant of arrest by the International Criminal Court on 4 March for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, has since mounted a massive campaign against international aid organisations saying they fed the international court false reports about the Darfur crisis.
The statement of the 15 member council read by Libya's UN Ambassador Abdelrahman Chalgham, called on Sudan to continue co-operating with the UN and to reconsider the decision on suspending the activities of some non-government organisations in the country.
However, Sudan's ambassador to the UN, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed, said the humanitarian situation in Darfur was under control saying the Khartoum's decision was irreversible.
According to the UN the expelled aid organisations worked with more than 4.7 million Sudanese, including 2.7 million in refugee camps.
On Wednesday, the UN warned that more than a million Dafuris could face severe hunger and starvation if new aid agencies are not deployed in the war torn region to hand out food rations.
The UN’s humanitarian coordinator John Holmes said despite joint efforts by government, UN agencies and remaining non governmental organisations, more assistance was needed to fill the aid vacuum left by the expelled organisations.
The UN has said that the effects of the expulsions were already being felt, with feeding for malnourished children not taking place and un-serviced water pumps likely to break down.
The United Nations estimates that about 300,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003 when Darfuris took up arms against the government, accusing of neglect by the Arab-dominated Khartoum government. More than 2.7 million have been displaced.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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