Author:  SCIO@maf.org (SCIO) 
Date:    2000-04-10

   Christian communities of Southern Sudan are deeply concerned
about the suspension of humanitarian services because of
disagreement between SPLM/A and certain international NGOs
regarding their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU).
 
   However, the suspension of funding by ECHO to humanitarian
agencies who have signed the MOU and continue to serve in the
SPLM/A-controlled areas only adds to the suffering of innocent
civilians and does not contribute to solving the problem between
the SPLM/A and the NGOs involved.
 
   We therefore call upon the European Union member states to
direct ECHO to resume immediately funding to those agencies
which continue their humanitarian programmes serving the needy
people.
   
 We also call upon SPLM/A and the international NGOs to resolve
the issue of the MOU urgently.
   
Signed:
Dr Haruun Ruun
  for
New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC)
 
Fr. Damian Adugu
  for 
Sudan Catholic Bishops' Regional Conference (SCBRC)
 
Notes on Humanitarian Situation in Southern Sudan
   
-  The 12 international NGOs which declined to sign the SRRA
MoU and left SPLM-controlled areas of Sudan at the end of
February estimate that programmes worth US$ 32 million serving
1.6 million people have been affected by their withdrawal.
 
-  ECHO provides 20-25 million Euros in funds to Sudan each year,
of which about 2/3 is for southern Sudan. ECHO estimates that
about 50% of its programmes to southern Sudan have been lost as a
result of the withdrawal of these international NGOs.
 
-  Of 18 ECHO contracts for southern Sudan (including RASS
areas), the suspension of ECHO funding has left 5 unaffected, 7
partially affected and 6 cancelled.
 
-  The 49 NGOs remaining in Sudan, along with UN agencies and
ICRC, are under pressure to cover the shortfall. Some programmes
belonging to the NGOs which withdrew are already being
implemented by the remaining NGOs, thus reducing the impact of
the withdrawal. However suspension of ECHO funding will put
these remaining NGOs under even more pressure.
 
-  Churches are also under pressure to provide humanitarian
services in areas where NGOs have left.
 
-  As well as the direct effect of suspension of programmes, there is
a significant indirect effect on the local economy as Sudanese staff
are laid off and cash ceases to circulate.
 
-  Observers believe that the famine in the Horn of Africa will not
affect Sudan as badly as some other countries, but there will be
pockets of serious famine in Upper Nile, Bahr el-Ghazal and
Eastern Equatoria, exacerbated by displacement of people from
Upper Nile due to the conflict around the oilfields. Funding from
major donors, including ECHO, will be needed to cope with this
famine.
 
-Charles Omondi
SCBRC Communication Officer and SCIO Editor