Human Rights Watch welcomes the release of 187 civilian abductees by forces of the Revolutionary United Front near Magbeni on July 16 as stipulated in the May 18 ceasefire agreement signed in Lomé, Togo, but notes with concern the lack of compliance with the same agreement for the delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians within areas under RUF control.

On May 18, you and President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah signed a ceasefire agreement in Lomé, Togo which was witnessed by United Nations Special Representative, Francis Okelo, US Presidential Special Envoy [For the Promotion of Democracy in Africa,] Reverend Jesse Jackson, and others, in which you and the Government of Sierra Leone agreed, among other things to "the immediate release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants," and to "guarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need."

In a joint RUF and Government of Sierra Leone statement, dated June 3, which refined the issue of humanitarian access, it was stated that both parties were, "aware of the fact that the protracted civil strife in Sierra Leone has created a situation whereby the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans in need of humanitarian assistance cannot be reached," and went on to reaffirm your "respect for international conventions, principles and norms which govern the right of people to receive humanitarian assistance and the effective delivery of such assistance."

The United Nations Coordinator for Sierra Leone, Kingsley Amaning, recently described the humanitarian situation in the country as "dire." Civilians fleeing areas under rebel control describe alarming food shortages, and aid workers are treating an increasing number of malnourished children and adults—a good percentage coming out of rebel held areas. It is widely believed that the current food shortage is largely due to persistent and continuous food raids on civilian villages by your forces. Health workers have reported outbreaks of measles and dysentery country-wide and within areas under rebel control; concern over exceedingly poor health care conditions with few if any functioning hospitals; increasing infant mortality rates; and an extreme shortage of drugs and medication.. Amidst these growing reports, Human Rights Watch notes with concern that since the signing of the May 18 agreement, humanitarian agencies have been unable to obtain RUF clearance to deliver food to any area under rebel control and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have only been able to carry out health assessments in the rebel-held areas of Kailahun and Rokupr. Furthermore, the RUF has subsequently failed to meet its own commitments to facilitate follow-ups to these health assessments.

During the July 7 visit to Buedu, Kailahun district by a ten member delegation of both UN agencies and international NGOs, RUF commander Major General Sam Bockarie gave the delegation his personal guarantees for the safety of humanitarian workers and promised unfettered access, "without harassment and molestation" to rebel controlled areas.

Since then, efforts by U.N. agencies and international NGOs to commence assessments and programs within areas under RUF control have on several occasions been frustrated by communications breakdowns, failed appointments, and new operational requirements being placed by your forces. However, we are hopeful that the joint U.N./international NGO assessment mission to Makeni planned for Thursday July 22 will take place as agreed upon.

An estimated 2.6 million civilians, or nearly half of the Sierra Leonean population, are currently residing in areas under the control of your forces. These people, residing in the Northern and Eastern provinces of the country, have a right under international law to humanitarian assistance. The cumulative effects of at least six months and in some cases several years of displacement and chronic shortages of food and medicine is, by all accounts, causing undue suffering and untimely death for the most vulnerable.

The denial of humanitarian assistance to civilians contravenes common standards of decency and contradicts the sentiment and the terms of both the May 18 Ceasefire Agreement and the June 3 joint statement on the Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance. We therefore call on you to demonstrate your commitment to these agreements and to use your leadership to ensure the prompt delivery of humanitarian assistance to so many vulnerable Sierra Leoneans.

We greatly appreciate your attention to this important matter.