LONDON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- London said it was prepared to provide funding to help the situation in Sudan as the country gets ready for a historic vote on independence for the south.
Voters in Sudan during the weekend get to decide whether South Sudan becomes the world's newest nation. The measure is part of a comprehensive peace agreement reached in 2005 that ended one of the most brutal civil conflicts in modern history.
London said it was on standby to help with food, healthcare, emergency shelter, water and medicine in support of the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
The government added it was offering technical assistance to help with talks on border demarcation and security arrangements after the referendum.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his latest report on Sudan said the United Nations was prepared to respond to any humanitarian issues or conflict that may result from the referendum.
"Only a demonstrated commitment by the parties to refrain from inflammatory statements, uphold the comprehensive peace agreement cease-fire mechanisms and engage in dialogue to settle differences will succeed in maintaining peace," the secretary-general declared.
Amnesty International, which has reported rights violations by both sides, called Friday for guarantees of free voting and expression. It also expressed concern for northerners and southerners who will be left in foreign countries after the split.
