More than 650,000 affected in Sudan warzone: UN
More than 650,000 people have been displaced or severely affected by fighting in two Sudanese states, the United Nations said on Wednesday, expressing hope that a newly signed aid deal will lead to access after months of restrictions.
The UN has expressed concern for months about a worsening humanitarian situation in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile warzone, but Khartoum cited security concerns in tightly restricting the operations of foreign relief agencies.
On Sunday, however, Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN, African Union and Arab League to allow for humanitarian access throughout the warzone -- including in rebel-held areas.
"It has taken 14 months to get to this point," Mark Cutts, the UN's acting resident and humanitarian coordinator, said after a mid-year briefing to aid agencies, diplomats and others.
"We greatly welcome the government's acceptance of this initiative and signing of a memorandum of understanding," he said, expecting "major progress" on reaching needy civilians over coming days and weeks.
A similar memorandum has been reached with rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), who have been battling government forces since June last year in South Kordofan, and since September in Blue Nile.
Initial estimates are that 520,000 people have been displaced or severely affected in South Kordofan and another 145,000 in Blue Nile, Cutts said.
Ahram Online
Video
Spot Lights
AFPTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rallies supporters after riot police again clash with thousands of anti-government demonstrators in a second week of nationwide unrest.Three people have died in the protests against Erdogan and his Islamic-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP), in power since 2002.Following are the main events of the past days:- May 28: A peaceful local protest
AFPTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing one of the biggest challenges of his decade in power with anti-government protests that critics say have exposed growing discontent with his increasingly authoritarian and conservative agenda.Here are the key events since Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed power in the predominantly Muslim but staunchly
AHRAM ONLINEFounders of Egypt’s 'Rebel' campaign, a newly established movement that aims to withdraw confidence from President Mohamed Morsi by collecting citizens' signatures, spoke at an open forum on Wednesday to discuss the campaign, which has recently gone viral online and on the streets.'Rebel' campaigners hope to collect 15 million signatures and hold a mass sit-in on 30 June –
BBC SportWhen it's put to him that he might be the most talented athlete in the world to hold a racquet, a bashful Ramy Ashour admits "that's pretty great".The 25-year-old Egyptian is more than just the current squash world number one - his elastic, unorthodox brilliance and charisma could be the key to squash breaking out beyond its four walls and regaining a place on the wider sporting
