Sudan allows 4 expelled aid groups back

United Nations: The Sudanese government is allowing four aid organizations expelled from the country after its president was accused of war crimes to return under slightly different names, the UN humanitarian chief said on Thursday.

Sudan ordered 13 of the largest international aid groups to leave the country in early March, accusing them of cooperating and giving false testimony to the International Criminal Court, which issued a warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur conflict.

The aid groups deny the accusations.

John Holmes, the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs who visited Sudan last month, welcomed the government's public statements that it values help from international agencies and that new groups, including organizations with new names and logos, can work in the country.

"We continue to believe the expulsions unjustified, and the easiest thing is to reverse them," he said. "Nevertheless, we have made some good progress with the government, trying to create a more positive atmosphere."

Four of the expelled aid groups have applied for new registration under slightly different names and been allowed back in, he said. "I think the same possibility is open to others."

Holmes said CARE, Save The Children, and Mercy Corps will be resuming their humanitarian work in Darfur and PADCO will resume its work in three areas along Sudan's disputed north-south border, all with somewhat different names. He did not say how their names had been changed.

"It remains to be seen how quickly they can restart their operations," Holmes said, since they may have lost assets and some of their staff members may have moved on to other jobs.

Holmes said three Sudanese aid groups are appealing their closure by the government in court.

According to the UN, Sudan's expulsion removed 40 percent of the aid workers in Darfur, roughly 6,500 national and international staff members, and created a huge gap in the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to some 4.7 million people in Darfur and tens of thousands more elsewhere.

Immediately after the expulsions, Holmes said, some NGO staffers were reportedly attacked, and the national media waged a negative campaign that put agencies and individuals at risk.