The Sudanese government’s new business: NGO Press Release Dictation

So – I was about to get off the computer, but I just caught sight of these, and they warranted the creation of a new category: “WTF?”

Press Release by CARE:

ATLANTA (June 12, 2009) – CARE USA wishes to respond to the statements made by John Holmes, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, on Thursday June 11, 2009.

Holmes implied in his statement that CARE USA, which was one of the 13 aid agencies expelled from Sudan in March, would be allowed to return to Sudan. This however is not the case. CARE USA’s registration in Sudan remains void, and CARE USA will not resume operations in North Sudan. CARE International Foundation (Switzerland) has applied for a registration to operate in Sudan in order to provide humanitarian and development assistance to poor and vulnerable communities. CI Switzerland is a distinct and independent organization registered in Switzerland, under Swiss law, and is separate from CARE USA.

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Press release by MercyCorps:

PORTLAND, Ore., June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Mercy Corps and Mercy Corps Scotland wish to clarify statements made by John Holmes, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, on Thursday 11 June 2009 relating to the return of expelled humanitarian relief agencies to Sudan.

Contrary to Mr. Holmes’ comments, Mercy Corps, which was expelled from Northern Sudan in early March 2009, is not resuming operations in Northern Sudan. Mercy Corps Scotland, a UK-based charity, has registered to work in Sudan. Mercy Corps Scotland is very pleased that the Government of Sudan has approved and welcomed this registration.

Mercy Corps Scotland is an independently registered organization in Scotland, and will be operating separately in Sudan.

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I understand the need for a degree of pragmatism – allowing the GOS to save face while getting back in- but this is beyond absurd.