Hoyer, Feingold Send Letter to President Bush on Darfur
Call on President to Send Clear Message to Sudan That They Must
Ensure Continued Humanitarian Access
May 8, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Senator
Russell D. Feingold (D-WI) sent a letter to President Bush yesterday,
urging him to deliver a strong message to the Sudanese government that
they are expected to follow through on all agreements regarding continued
humanitarian access to the more than two million Darfurians who depend
on international relief groups for survival. This letter follows a CODEL
to Darfur that Majority Leader Hoyer recently led, during which the
Leader experienced first-hand how internally displaced Darfurians rely
on these groups for basic services such as medical care, food delivery,
education, and water and sanitation. The Majority Leader has written
to the Sudanese Foreign Ministry on this issue as well.
"By sending this letter to President Bush, we hope to increase
pressure on the Sudanese government to abide by the agreements they
have signed," Majority Leader Hoyer said. "After recently
leading a CODEL to Darfur, I believe more than ever that humanitarian
organizations are doing vital work that must not be impeded by the
government of Sudan. The United States, and the international community,
must do everything possible to ensure continued humanitarian access
to the people of Darfur."
"While I am somewhat encouraged by the Sudanese government's
agreement to support humanitarian efforts in Darfur, this pledge must
be implemented completely and fully if it is to be at all useful to
the millions of people who rely on humanitarian assistance for survival,"
said Feingold, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee
on African Affairs. "The U.S. Administration must hold the Sudanese
government accountable for their commitments and make it absolutely
clear that obstruction of humanitarian aid will not be tolerated."
The letter was signed by 20 Senators in addition to Senator Feingold,
and 37 Representatives in addition to Majority Leader Hoyer. All 11
Members on the Hoyer CODEL to Darfur - including seven Democrats and
four Republicans -- signed the letter.
Even though the government of Sudan signed the Joint Communiqué
with the UN on March 28, humanitarian organizations are still experiencing
problems with delays in receiving and renewing travel visas and work
permits. Creating further confusion, some Sudanese government agencies
adhere to the Communiqué's requirements that all visas and
work permits be extended, and applications for new visas and permits
be approved within 15 days, while others do not. Additionally, the
Sudanese Department of Labor has "attempted to interfere in humanitarian
groups' hiring processes," by refusing work permits for aid workers.
In the letter, Members ask President Bush to use "all possible
tools of leverage" at his disposal to compel the Sudanese government
to ensure that humanitarian workers have access to Darfurians, and
to comply with the Joint Communiqué and their other international
agreements.
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