Excellencies,

We are honored to have this opportunity to address your Excellencies on the subject of the humanitarian situation in Sudan.  As members of the Arab Coalition for Darfur from thirteen countries we are gravely concerned about the conditions facing our friends, families and fellow Sudanese still in Sudan.

It is our privilege to express our strongest support and sincerest hope that your Excellencies will work to ensure that the grave humanitarian situation unfolding in Sudan is placed high on the agenda of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC.

Millions of Sudanese have already suffered years of hardship and misery, locked in the middle of conflict.  With the decision of the Sudanese President to expel 13 humanitarian organizations, 4.7 million of our people will be at risk in terms of food, water and health services and the chance for a better life. The absence of these organizations leaves our brothers and sisters at great risk, particularly in our homeland of Darfur and in the Transitional Areas whose stability is crucial to the future of Sudan.  We are forever grateful for agencies remaining on the ground striving to perform the noble work of providing live-saving aid. However, the UN and aid agencies indicate that it would be impossible for these agencies to scale up and integrate with the current system.  New agencies from the region and elsewhere should also get established in Darfur, but insufficient numbers of required capacity had come forward and it is a race against time to scale up at the required speed. With the rainy season coming, this could spell catastrophe for our people and Sudan.

Indeed with the hunger season beginning in May and the rainy season soon after, apocalyptic visions of human suffering could become a reality. One of the great achievements of the humanitarian response in Darfur was the fact that it kept disease and malnutrition rates low. Not one case of cholera was recorded in Darfur last year, despite heavy rains and flooding in some areas.   This year it could be different and there are already cases of meningitis.

Given the dire nature of the situation, may we implore your Excellencies to encourage the Government of Sudan to recognize that expelling aid agencies will only exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Sudan.

We extend our unwavering hope that your Excellencies will use your great influence to speak with President Omar al-Bashir and request that he allows the NGOs to return and perform their important humanitarian work. The Organization of Islamic Conference has demonstrated a keen interest in addressing the current Darfur crisis. It has a crucial role in resolving this difficult situation and creating a better future for the people of Darfur and Sudan as a whole by also actively engaging in pressing for a cessation of hostilities and in the peace process as a whole.

The Arab Coalition for Darfur

For more information contact Mrs. Bahia Mardini at [email protected] or call 00963944225210

رسالة مفتوحة من التحالف العربي من أجل دارفور