Sudan demands UN, int'l pressure on rebels to allow aid to conflict- hit areas

Sudan on Tuesday asked the United Nations (UN) and the international community to put pressure on the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, the official SUNA news agency reported. Sudan's Minister of Interior Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid "asked the UN, the international community and the humanitarian work partners to adopt the necessary measures and put pressure on the rebel movement which is crippling the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to the affected population and bombarding the civilians, " SUNA reported. Hamid on Tuesday met in Khartoum with UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan Haile Menkerios in the presence of the UN Resident Coordinator in Khartoum Ali Al- Zatari. He reiterated Sudan's commitment to cooperate with the international community to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected population in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, despite the end of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding, signed between the Sudanese government, the UN, the Arab League ( AL) and the African Union (AU), according to the report. On Nov. 6, Sudan announced the end of the tripartite initiative to deliver aid to the two areas, while Khartoum and the SPLM/ northern sector exchanged accusations regarding the responsibility for its failure. International reports said over 500,000 people are living under serious humanitarian conditions in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, while Khartoum said this figure was exaggerated and the number does not exceed 65,000. South Kordofan and Blue Nile states have been witnessing armed clashes between the Sudanese government forces and rebels of the SPLM/northern sector, which declared rebellion against the Sudanese government following the independence of South Sudan.