UN Prepared For Referendum Aftermath

November 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations says it has prepared contingency plans for the period leading up to and after the southern Sudan and Abyei referenda.

The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Madam Valerie Amos addressed a press conference at the end of her first visit to Sudan in Khartoum on Tuesday.

[Valerie Amos]: “With respect to any problem which may occur before or after the referenda, of course we have contingency plans in place, you wouldn’t expect us to do nothing. Any organization working on humanitarian issues has contingency plans in place, and of course we are talking to our colleagues in the U-N Mission in Sudan UNMIS and the United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur UNAMID as well as talking to NGOs and the whole of the UN family with respect to those contingency plans, which will include the pre-positioning of supplies in different locations.”

Madam Valerie urged the two partners, the NCP and SPLM to ensure that southern Sudanese Internally Displaced Persons living in northern Sudan are protected during before and after the referendum.

[Valerie Amos]: “With respect to those southerners in Khartoum who wish to return to the south, I would say two things: first, that the parties should make it absolutely clear that “pre and post” referendum that people’s security is guaranteed and statements need to be made publicly to that effect, to give people the sense that those statements would be adhered to. We have made it absolutely clear that it is important that any return is a phased return, particularly to ensure that basic services can be put in place to those going back, and it is also important to recognize that those returning will need to be able to look after themselves and that they will need access to jobs.”

Madam Valerie also highlighted the growing concern by humanitarian organizations in the south and Abyei.

[Valerie Amos]: “Humanitarian agencies have reported a worrying deterioration in the operating environment in recent months in the south, in Abyei and in Darfur. Growing insecurity is a major concern and it is limiting the freedom of movement of humanitarian workers and their ability to offer assistance to people in need. I have asked for a renewed commitment from the authorities in the south, in Darfur and at the federal level to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian assistance is unhampered and is free from any political, ethnic or religious consideration.”

During her five-day visit to Sudan, Madam Valerie traveled to Juba, Yambio and Ezo in south Sudan, Agok and Abyei in the three protocol areas, and to El-Fashir and Nyala in Darfur. She met with senior government officials in Khartoum and Juba and discussed humanitarian issues.