U.N. officials said yesterday that Sudan ordered 13 of the largest aid groups expelled after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Sudan's government has accused the non-governmental organizations of cooperating with the ICC and offering "false" testimony.

At least 2.7 million people in the large, arid region of western Sudan have been driven from their homes in the war between Darfur rebels and the government since 2003.

The 13 aid organizations are responsible for at least half of the humanitarian operations in Darfur and are vital partners for U.N. agencies in delivering food and water and providing health care, education and other services, said Catherine Bragg, the U.N.'s deputy emergency relief coordinator.

"With the loss of these NGOs, 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.1 million will be without health care, and over 1 million will be without potable water," she said.

The groups expelled are Oxfam GB, CARE International, Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland, Mercy Corps, Save the Children Fund-UK, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, Action Contre la Faim, Solidarites, and CHF International, MSF-France, Save the Children Fund-US and PADCO.

The President of the IBH, Doctor Haytham Manna asked Mr. Khaled Shukri, Plenipotentiary Minister of Sudan in France about more details concerning these accusations. For the IBH, it is very important to give evidences about this information, “because we know very well the professionalism and objectivity of the majority of NGOs accused by the Sudanese government”.

6^th of March 2009

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