UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. refugee agency says Sudan's government has not renewed work permits for 20 of the 37 international staffers in the country, forcing cutbacks in services to displaced people in Darfur.
The agency says this hurt their work in North Darfur, where none of the U.N. staff had work permits renewed and they were abruptly asked to leave in early July.
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Tuesday: "I think that the U.N. system, as whole, would be wanting to see movement on visas and permits."
Sudan's U.N. mission had no immediate reaction.
The UNHCR says about 2 million people are homeless in Darfur, of whom 1.2 million live in camps.
Last week the Security Council expressed serious concern at Darfur's deteriorating humanitarian situation and demanded an end to escalating violence.
