SUDAN AGREEMENT OPENS NILE RIVER CORRIDOR, IMPROVES HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO SOUTH

[OCHA]

Sudan Agreement opens nile river corridor,

improves humanitarian access to South

NEW YORK, 30 April (OCHA) -- Parties to the conflict in the Sudan have agreed to open a new corridor that would allow enhanced humanitarian access to southern Sudan.

In a statement, Mukesh Kapila, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan welcomed the statement, saying, “This important step forward will bring greater hope and help to the long-suffering people of the Sudan.  The United Nations is fully geared up to support the two sides in delivering on their immediate commitments.  Over the coming days we will also continue to work with both sides on further practical measures to improve humanitarian provision on a sustained basis.”

The agreement, which allowed the opening of the Nile River Corridor, was signed jointly by the Government of the Sudan and rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), and the United Nations.  It was reached at a meeting hosted this week under the auspices of the Tripartite Committee on Access and Crossline Corridors.

The agreement would reduce the cost of delivering supplies by enabling the use of water barges, which cost much less than airlifts and airdrops.  The parties agreed on the need to open more road corridors to enable more effective and efficient humanitarian delivery and reiterated their full commitment to allowing humanitarian access to all needy areas throughout the Sudan.  The parties have asked the United Nations to send a barge convoy to deliver urgently needed food to the Kosti, Malakal, Bor and Juba regions along the river, by 12 May.

Conflict has raged in the Sudan for over 20 years causing the displacement of over 4 million people and the death of 2 million.  Chronic drought in both the east and west of the country and smaller conflicts have worsened the situation.

The United Nations seeks $255 million to assist vulnerable populations in the Sudan this year.

For further information, contact Brian Grogan, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York, tel.: (212) 963-1143.

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