UN says detention of aid workers in Sudan "totally unacceptable"

Sunday June 6th, 2004.

NAIROBI, June 06, 2004 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland on Sunday welcomed the release of 16 humanitarian workers detained by the Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army
(SLM/A) in Darfur, Sudan, but terming the detention "totally unacceptable."

Egeland said that the detention and delayed release of the workers was "totally unacceptable" and "contradicts solemn promises" made by the SLM/A last week, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Office for the Sudan, headquartered in Kenyan's capital Nairobi, said here in a press release.

"The detention and the delayed release of our staff contradicts the solemn promise to facilitate all relief work made by SLM/A leaders and the other parties to the conflict last week during meetings with donors and UN officials in Geneva," Egeland said.

"Too much time has already been lost in this race against the clock to save more than a million lives threatened by indiscriminate violence, starvation and disease. We expect the government and the rebel groups to end restrictions on access and protect civilians and relief workers as we try to dramatically increase relief operations," he added.

The 16 humanitarian workers, 13 national and three international staff, were conducting assessments to prepare the way for delivery of relief assistance for displaced people in the vicinity of Al Hiliefin north Darfur, when they were detained by an armed SLM/A unit on Thursday.

The team represented a variety of agencies including the World Food Program, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission.