Norway aid agency leaves Darfur

11 Nov, 2006

Sudanese government obstruction has forced the Norwegian Refugee Council to close its Darfur operation providing humanitarian relief to 300,000 war victims, the aid agency said on Friday.
Sudan is suspicious of the dozens of foreign aid agencies working in Darfur and has targeted more vocal organisations, especially those that have revealed figures for rape, a crime Khartoum denies is widespread in the violent region.
"Closing down is the very last option," said NRC Secretary-General Tomas C. Archer.
"However, the frequent disruption of our humanitarian work, such as suspension for a sum total of 210 days, is forcing us to take this very difficult decision," he added. "We cannot work when the authorities suspend us continuously and do not respond to our repeated requests for dialogue," Archer said in a statement.

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