§ Lord McNairasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the use by Operation Lifeline Sudan of the rail network in Sudan to deliver food aid to central and southern Sudan has been impeded by the refusal of the United States Government to allow delivery to the Sudan of spare parts for rolling stock. [HL3804]
§ Baroness AmosThe impediment to the use of the rail network in Sudan by Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) is the lack of a political agreement by all sides to the conflict in Sudan to the unhindered use of the train for relief purposes. Trains to central and southern Sudan are running despite the lack of imported spares. But because of the security situation they are accompanied by Sudanese Government armed guards. The use of government armed guards on a relief convoy negates its impartiality and thus exposes it to attack and raiding by militia.
A meeting of the Technical Committee on Humanitarian Assistance, comprising representatives of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development, OLS, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Sudan Government is scheduled to meet later this month under the chairmanship of the United Nations. The issue of land routes, including use of the train, will be a main part of the agenda, and we are urging all sides to agree safe passage for the delivery of humanitarian relief by rail without armed guard and under the auspices of the United Nations.