Action Against Hunger Expelled from Darfur along with Nine Other Aid Groups

Expulsions eliminate 60-80% of aid for the displaced in Darfur, millions threatened Khartoum, Sudan —

On Wednesday, March 4th, authorities in northern Sudan ordered the global humanitarian organization ACF International to leave Darfur along with nine other international aid organizations. With registrations revoked, ACF’s offices in Khartoum were sealed off and the organization’s programs brought to a halt. ACF deplores this decision, expressing grave concern for the fate of the millions of displaced Sudanese whose lives depend on the lifelines provided by the international community in North Sudan.

ACF has worked in Sudan since 1985, administering programs in food assistance, the treatment and detection of malnutrition, and the extension of water and sanitation services. In 2008, ACF activities included distributions of 800,000 food rations, 10,000 tons of food, and water, sanitation and hygiene programs benefitting 100,000 people in the Darfur region, where the survival of nearly 2.5 million people depends on humanitarian assistance.

“If ACF is forced to discontinue these activities, 450,000 people will be immediately deprived of emergency assistance and left without food and water,” says Francois Danel, Executive Director of ACF's French headquarters in Paris.

Action Against Hunger joins its colleague organizations in calling on the Sudanese authorities to change course, respect humanitarian principles, and avoid placing millions of people at risk. The humanitarian assistance provided by the ten NGOs threatened with expulsion represents 60–80% of the total amount of assistance that reaches Darfur. With the expulsion of these international organizations, the fate of millions are put in jeopardy.

The ten international organizations affected include: Action Against Hunger, CARE, Doctors Without Borders-Holland, Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the Norweigan Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, Solidarites, and CHF International.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger | ACF International is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programs in some 40 countries benefiting 5 million people each year.

Press Contact

Action Against Hunger - USA

James L. Phelan
Senior External Relations Officer, ACF-USA
Contact James Phelan
Direct: 212-967-7800 x108
Cell: 646-265-7796

Action Against Hunger - France

Elise Rodriguez
Responsable de la Communication externe
eliserodriguez@actioncontrelafaim.org
Direct: + 33 1 43 35 82 23
Offsite/Weekends: + 06 70 01 58 34 / + 06 70 01 58 43

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