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afrol News, 4 November - All of Sudan's leading donor nations today jointly issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire, but demanded the "unimpeded humanitarian access" agreed upon was implemented. Great numbers of Sudanese have been cut off life-saving aid due to the fighting and a general ban to access the south of Sudan. In a so-called "donor statement", The United States, the European Union, Norway, Canada, Japan and Switzerland today welcomed the signing on 15 October by the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of Hostilities. The agreement had also committed both parties "to unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas and to all people in need," the donors recalled. "We expect both parties to fulfil their obligations immediately to facilitate the implementation of humanitarian assistance programs," the statement reads. The donor community also expressed its encouragement by the resumption of the Inter-Government Authority on Development peace talks and "applaud the critical role by the government of Kenya in bringing this about." - The humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire, the donors state, "especially in areas long-denied humanitarian access." The donor community however stood "ready to support the United Nations and its partners in ensuring the provision of unhindered humanitarian access - including carrying out needs and security assessments - throughout Sudan." Nonetheless, the donors underscored "the importance of ensuring the safety and security of all humanitarian workers as humanitarian programs are expanded throughout Sudan." The Sudanese government on 26 September had announced a relief flight ban over the southern provinces held by SPLA rebels as peace efforts thus had come to a standstill. The ban covered all relief flights and vehicles into southern Sudan from the main relief bases in Kenya and Uganda and raised fears of an upcoming famine. The government ban on relief flights came during a period when increased abuses were reported in the civil war in Southern Sudan. Recent assessments of food security in the zone also generally indicate a poor crop performance, with a significant reduction in yields expected in most parts of South Sudan. A famine could be expected in the Upper Nile region if international food aid does not reach in time. This is also "where households are highly dependent on own crop production to meet their food needs," according to the assessment. Sources: Based on EU, UN and afrol archives
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