Sudan has eased restrictions on humanitarian groups trying to assist in the troubled region of Darfur, according to a joint statement released on Friday by the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The United Nations and a number of aid organisations have complained of rejections or delays in receiving travel permits to Darfur, where more than a year of fighting has displaced almost one-million people and led to a major humanitarian crisis.
”The government has decided to grant those working with the United Nations, the donors, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and non-governmental organisations an entry visa within 48 hours of depositing their application with the Sudanese diplomatic missions,” the statement said.
The visas will be valid for three months, it said, and was part of an effort ”to facilitate the missions of the partners working in the humanitarian domain”.
It said the new measure recognised the needs of the Darfur citizens for humanitarian assistance and hoped that the aid would enable many to return home.
President Omar el-Bashir visited the region earlier this week and urged citizens to return home, promising that calm had returned since a ceasefire was signed last month.
Thousands of people are believed to have died since early 2003 when rebels began fighting for autonomy and greater state aid. The conflict has also displaced about 900 000 refugees in Darfur’s three states, and another 100 000 have fled into neighbouring Chad. – Sapa-AP