Washington accuses Khartoum of obstructing Darfour relief aid

The US on Monday accused Sudan of obstructing the humanitarian efforts in Darfour area to the western part of the country which lives a humanitarian crisis because of the tension overwhelming it since more than one year.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State Richard Boucher expressed his country's concern that in contrary to all obligations given by the Sudanese government, there are still tremendous obstacles hindering the way to transfer humanitarian aid to those who are in need.

Boucher, in particular accused the Sudanese authorities of rejecting to give cars for transporting the humanitarian aid and to provide communications means in certain times to humanitarian workers or the delay to distribute food aid which are brought from abroad to Sudan's port on the red sea.

According to UNICEF, almost half a million of children are threatened of diseases and malnutrition in Darfour and that more than 2 million persons were in a way or another affected by this humanitarian crisis.

The conflict erupted in Darfour, the almost dry area in February 2003 when the rebellions decided to carry weapons in confrontation of the central authority which they had accused to neglecting their area and not providing necessary resources for its development.

UN sources say that the conflict between the government and the rebels in Darfour resulted in killing 10,000 persons as well as displacing of 150,000 refugees to the neighboring Chad.