SUDAN_ The United Nations has said that efforts to vaccinate 165,000 children against polio in Sudan have been blocked by the government and rebels.

UN humanitarian chief Mr. John Ging stated that government and rebels had ignored a Security Council resolution to give health workers access and advised both sides to stop filibustering and give health workers access to children in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

He added that the UN had held talks with the government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) to carry out vaccinations from 5 November to 12 November but however noted that they have been filibustered with process, discussions and disputes which have amounted to no access.

According to the World Health Organization, Sudan has been polio-free for more than two years and is concerned that the conflict in the two states could lead to a polio outbreak and advised the council to use its significant authority to force the government and SPLM-N to let health workers in.

Mr Ging further stated that the UN had already been forced to cut back on plans to send food and other relief to South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and had decided to focus on the vaccination drive