Posted by Sandra Guy
Aid is urgently needed in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, to avoid a stage four emergency, which is one step short of a full scale famine.
US Representative to the UN, Susan Rice issued this warning at a press briefing shortly after a Security Council meeting on Sudan on Tuesday.
The Government of Sudan has deliberately denied access to international NGOs, UN, and humanitarian workers to the most affected population in the two states, according to Ms. Rice.
She described the situation as “unconscionable and unacceptable”.
“The bottom line is that this conflict has affected more than 500,000 people and if there is not a substantial new inflow of aid by March this year, the situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile will reach stage 4 of an emergency which is one step short of a full scale famine. This is exceedingly grave, and underscores the urgency of the situation.”
The UN humanitarian coordinator, Valerie Amos was recently in Sudan to press the government to allow the UN unhindered access in the volatile states.
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