UN blames Sudan government and rebels for humanitarian crisis; 900,000 need aid

UNITED NATIONS – The director of U.N. humanitarian operations is blaming the Sudanese government and rebels for blocking all humanitarian aid from two southern states where over 900,000 people need help and an unknown number are surviving on roots and leaves or dying.

John Ging said a year-long effort to get access to South Kordofan and Blue Nile states has failed because of "a lack of political will" by the government and rebels allied with guerrilla forces that eventually came to power in South Sudan.

"The humanitarian status of these people is truly appalling," Ging told reporters after briefing the Security Council Tuesday. "If we don't find a solution ... then the inevitable consequence is more people will die, more needless humanitarian suffering will occur and more displacement into South Sudan and Ethiopia."