Sudan tells Red Cross to suspend activities

Sudanese authorities have told the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to suspend its activities in the country.

The ICRC said on Saturday that the organization had received a letter from the Sudanese authorities citing “technical issues relating to its humanitarian plans for this year.”

The organization also stated that in response to the letter it had halted its work in Sudan and hoped to “resume our activities as soon as possible.”

The ICRC has reportedly begun discussing with the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) to find a solution for next year’s work plan.

Last year, the Red Cross helped more than 1.5 million people affected by conflict in Sudan.

The Red Cross mainly assists in the western region of Darfur by supplying food, water, health care, and other forms of aid.

Darfur has been the scene of violence since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum. There has also been tribal fighting in the region.

The United Nations estimates that more than 300,000 people have died in Darfur since the violence began.

Sudan accuses South Sudan, which seceded from the Republic of Sudan in July 2011, of supporting anti-government rebels operating in the Darfur region and the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Sudan lost billions of dollars in oil revenues after South Sudan gained independence, taking with it some 75 percent of crude production of the formerly united country.

Sudan has also been plagued by running inflation and a weakening currency ever since.