Expelled aid agencies may return to Darfur

NYALA, Sudan, June 12 (UPI) -- John Holmes, the humanitarian chief for the United Nations, says Sudan is prepared to welcome back four aid agencies it expelled from Darfur.

Holmes said the Sudanese government has decided to allow Care International, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, and Padco the chance to return to Darfur and offer aid to residents impacted by the region's six-year conflict, the BBC reported Friday.

"That possibility is there for all the organizations which were expelled and some of them already have taken advantage of it. They (have) now got very recently new registrations and will be restarting their operations," he said.

The four organizations were expelled from Darfur in March along with nine other groups.

The BBC said an official in Sudan has denied reports the expelled groups would be welcomed back into the troubled region.

National Congress Party member Qotbi al-Mahdi said the expelled groups were not being allowed access to Darfur, saying the Sudanese decision involved new organizations.