The United Nations Emergency Relief coordinator met with Sudanese government officials this past week to discuss a 10-day flight ban imposed at the beginning of October for the war-ravaged southern part of the country. Senior government officials promised to review the policy, which led to the suspension of humanitarian aid programs throughout the region, including the devastated Nuba Mountains area, home to the indigenous Nuba people. Due to the flight ban, at least 350,000 people have not received scheduled food deliveries and 790,000 children were not given polio vaccinations as planned. The ban appears to be a violation of the January ceasefire between the government and southern-based rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army, which ensured access to war-affected vulnerable populations.
