KHARTOUM, Sudan, April 23 (UPI) -- The head of the United Nations warned that a fragile peace deal could collapse in Sudan without focused support from the international community.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon raised concerns in a report to the U.N. Security Council about the absence of several of the humanitarian aid groups in Sudan following their expulsion by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the United Nations reported.
Bashir removed the aid groups in response to his indictment by the International Criminal Court in connection with alleged war crimes. Ban, who called on the Sudanese government to reinstate the aid groups, warned that the situation in Sudan could deteriorate without the groups and result in a "humanitarian catastrophe," according to a news release.
The anti-non-governmental organization rhetoric "threatens not only the security of (the expelled organizations) and the humanitarian community that remains in the Sudan but also the continued delivery of vitally needed humanitarian services and human rights activities," Ban said in the release.
Ban said the international community must remain focused on Sudan or the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the country's north and south signed in 2005 could face a serious threat of failure.
