European Commission statement on Southern Sudan
The European Commission condemns the explicit
threat made by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to the safety
of humanitarian agencies who do not sign the Memorandum of Understanding
between NGOs and the Sudan Relief and Rehablitation Agency (SRRA) before
March 1st. Such a threat is completely unacceptable and the Commission
calls for this ultimatum to be lifted. The Commission considers the ability
of humanitarian agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance in a neutral,
independent and secure framework as being of utmost importance. It considers
the decision whether to sign or not to sign the Memorandum of Understanding
as one to be taken by each NGO independently and, consequently, does not
deem it appropriate to sanction NGOs that sign under duress. However, the
forced evacuation of non-signatory NGOs under threat to their lives from
SPLA areas is considered as a serious breach of international humanitarian
law which jeopardises the delivery of assistance in line with internationally
recognised principles. The responsibility for this situation must rest
with the SPLA. Consequently, the Commission currently sees no basis for
the continuation of funding for humanitarian assistance in areas where
the conditions for delivery of aid according to humanitarian principles
do not exist. The Commission is acutely aware of the existing humanitarian
needs of the people of Southern Sudan and hopes that the SPLA is aware
of the possible consequences of an expulsion of NGOs. The Commission is
ready to support any initiative that will break the impasse and lead to
the resumption of negotiations but reiterates the point that this can only
happen without the threat of an ultimatum.