VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6297 0781341
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 191324Z MAR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 026297 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM AA
SUBJECT: OCHA BRIEFING MARCH 20 ON SUDAN HUMANITARIAN 
SITUATION 
 
¶1.  USUN may draw from the following talking points as needed 
for the March 20 briefing by OCHA on the humanitarian 
situation in Sudan. 
 
Begin points: 
 
-- The United States reiterates its condemnation of the 
Government of Sudan's expulsion of 13 international 
humanitarian aid organizations from Sudan and its closure of 
three national aid organizations.  This decision already has 
compromised the provision of health care, water, sanitation, 
and food to vulnerable populations throughout Darfur. 
 
-- This new crisis is the sole making of President Bashir, 
and puts millions at risk.  It is unacceptable for any leader 
to treat his people in this way.  In addition his 
increasingly threatening rhetoric against international 
representatives jeopardizes the safety of both the people who 
provide assistance and the people who receive it. 
 
-- The Government of Sudan bears responsibility for the 
consequences of this decision, which only exacerbates an 
already dire humanitarian crisis in Darfur and threatens the 
stability of the entire nation. This decision will not only 
cost lives, but it will also serve to further isolate the 
country. 
 
-- There is no justification for tying the denial of urgent 
humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur to the 
International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to issue an 
arrest warrant for President Bashir.  The suggestion of 
trading an Article 16 deferral for food and water is 
repulsive. 
 
-- We urge the international community to press the 
Government of Sudan to reverse the NGO expulsion decision and 
to ensure further actions are not taken to worsen the 
situation.  President Bashir must rectify this situation 
immediately. 
 
-- The United States is working as closely and intensively as 
possible with UN institutions and other member states with 
influence on Sudan to reverse the Government of Sudan,s 
expulsion order for NGOs.  These organizations are critical 
to the survival of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 
other conflict-affected populations in Sudan. 
 
-- The Sudanese government must demonstrate its ability to 
shoulder the responsibility for the situation it has created. 
 It will be held responsible for every death caused by its 
expulsion of aid workers. 
 
-- Those governments that support President Bashir's regime 
have a responsibility to persuade the Government of Sudan to 
reverse its decision or to replace the services provided by 
the expelled groups. 
 
-- The UN has reported a significant degradation in the 
capacity to provide food to malnourished children. Newly 
reported cases of meningitis in Kalma camp and the Jebel 
Marra area are reported as a result of a reduction in the 
capacity to deliver water and provide health services.  This 
has led to concerns about the spread of infectious diseases 
in IDP camps and other areas that no longer have reliable 
access to effective health and nutrition services. 
 
-- Our Charg d,Affaires himself has witnessed the growing 
humanitarian crisis in Zam Zam camp in North Darfur, where 
resources are already stretched to the limit but displaced 
people continue to arrive. The continuing arrival of over 
36,000 IDPs fleeing recent fighting in South Darfur between 
rebels and the government has strained camp resources to the 
limit. We urge the Sudanese Government, in close cooperation 
with the UN and the NGOs, to quickly address water, land and 
other issues at Zam Zam camp and other IDP camps across 
Darfur before the situation deteriorates any further. 
 
-- In terms of filling urgent gaps left by the expelled 
organizations, we support UNAMID, WFP, and others, efforts 
to provide urgent relief now, including desperately needed 
clean water.  However, despite the willingness their efforts 
cannot even begin to fill the gap left by the expelled NGOs. 
Furthermore, the March 17 ambush of UNAMID peacekeepers in 
South Darfur, resulting in the death of a peacekeeper, 
underscores the conditions under which UNAMID operates in 
Darfur.  We express our deepest condolences to the Mission 
and to the family of the peacekeeper, and we reaffirm our 
commitment to supporting UNAMID in the implementation of its 
mandate. 
 
-- The U.S. has provided nearly $4 billion for humanitarian 
programs in Sudan and Eastern Chad since FY 2004.  The United 
States has provided nearly $1.25 billion in humanitarian 
assistance to date for the people of Sudan in FY 2008 and FY 
¶2009.  This includes humanitarian assistance for returning 
refugees in South Sudan, assistance to Sudanese refugees in 
Eastern Chad, and humanitarian assistance to Sudanese people 
in Darfur, Southern and Northern Sudan. 
 
-- USAID has provided more than $720 million in humanitarian 
assistance to Darfur in FY 2008 and to date in FY 2009.  The 
expulsions eliminated approximately 54 percent of USAID 
humanitarian nonfood programs (i.e. health, water, 
sanitation, etc.) in Darfur and 40 percent of the delivery 
capacity of USAID,s main food aid partner, the World Food 
Programme. 
 
-- The GOS must take action now to rectify the crisis it has 
caused. 
 
-- We are determined to pursue long-term peace in the Darfur 
region, ensure the ongoing delivery of humanitarian 
assistance, and improve the protection of civilians. 
 
 
End points 
CLINTON