DATE=12/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / SUDAN AID (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257256
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Sudanese government and rebels from the
Sudan People's Liberation Army, S-P-L-A, have agreed
to protect and respect the rights of humanitarian aid
workers and aid beneficiaries. Lisa Schlein in Geneva
reports the agreement was signed at the end of a two-
day meeting hosted by the United Nations.
TEXT: If the Sudanese government and rebels stick to
the agreement, United Nations mediators say aid
agencies will have a much better chance of delivering
food, medicine, and other relief supplies to hundreds
of thousands of needy people.
Representatives from Sudan's two warring parties meet
every six months to review the U-N's humanitarian
relief program, called Operation Lifeline Sudan. The
parties discuss issues such as safe corridors for the
delivery of relief supplies and security measures.
The U-N's humanitarian envoy to Sudan, Tom Vraalsen,
calls this week's agreement a major breakthrough.
/// VRAALSEN ACT ONE ///
They have committed themselves to the principle
that humanitarian aid agencies have the right to
free and unimpeded access to all war-affected
civilian populations. Once beneficiaries have
received humanitarian relief food or any other
item, they are to be protected from diversion,
from taxation, from theft, looting, and
contribution to the military.
/// END ACT ///
More than one-and-one-half-million people have died in
fighting and famine during Sudan's 16-year civil war.
U-N and private aid agencies are feeding up to two
million people in southern Sudan every month. Most of
the aid is airlifted, which is very costly.
Mr. Vraalsen says the warring parties have agreed that
food could be delivered safely by train from the
capital, Khartoum, to the southern city of Wau. But,
he says, the train cannot run without spare parts,
which are manufactured by a company in the United
States. He says he has asked the U-S government to
waive trade sanctions so the spare parts, worth 600-
thousand dollars, can be bought and the aid supply
train can run.
Mr. Vraalsen says he hopes to persuade U-S officials
this is a purely humanitarian operation.
/// VRAALSEN ACT TWO ///
We are convinced that we have worked out the
necessary arrangements to see to it that this
train is not attacked, that it is not being
looted, that it will run down from Khartoum to
Wau safe and sound and bring goods to Wau at a
considerably lower cost than it would otherwise
be.)
/// END ACT ///
United Nations officials say the train would be
painted white and have U-N insignia. They say
transporting relief supplies by train would cost 45
percent less than flying aid to people in southern
Sudan. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/WTW
17-Dec-1999 12:47 PM EDT (17-Dec-1999 1747 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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