UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (UPI) -- Parties to the conflict in Sudan must immediately grant unconditional access to peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies, the U.N. secretary-general said.
Sudanese airstrikes near Kadugli and Kauda in Southern Kordofan state drew concern from the United Nations this week.
The U.N. mission in Sudan said airstrikes in the region appeared indiscriminate and had inflicted heavy suffering on civilians. Attempts to get humanitarian aid to the region also were affected.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, through his spokesman, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence along the de facto border between Sudan and southern Sudan. Parties to the conflict must "immediately" put an end to the violence and allow "unconditional air and ground access" to U.N. peacekeepers and humanitarian agencies, he said.
Valerie Amos, the U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, expressed alarm over the humanitarian consequences of Sudanese violence.
"Humanitarian organizations are delivering aid where they can but their ability to help most of those in need is seriously compromised by insecurity and lack of access," she said in her statement. "Immediate, unconditional and safe freedom of movement for humanitarian organizations is needed in order to protect and assist those in need of aid."
