New York  - The United Nations said Tuesday that it has agreed with the Sudanese government to assess the humanitarian situation in Darfur and begin stop-gap relief programmes.

The new measures follow Sudan's expulsion of 13 international relief organizations as a knee-jerk reaction to the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur conflict by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC also issued a warrant to arrest al-Bashir.

Ameerah Haq, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, and Sudan's commissioner for humanitarian aid, Hassabo Mohammad Abdal Rahman, agreed in Khartoum to send separate teams to gauge the impact of the 13 relief groups' departure.

The expelled groups, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and Care, were responsible for at least half the humanitarian assistance provided in Darfur.

"Concrete plans will have to be put in place if these gaps are to be bridged in a sustainable long-term manner two months from now," Haq said.

"Only then will the civilians in need be assured of life-saving food, health care, shelter and the water and sanitation services that were provided by the ousted non-governmental organizations," she said.

Haq said about 850,000 Darfuris are receiving drinking water thanks to the "quick engagement" of the Sudanese government, the UN Children's Fund and Sudanese NGOs. But she said an estimated 650,000 people have no access to healthcare.

An estimated 1.1 million Darfuris are temporarily receiving food aid through April. Haq said the UN feared food would run out in May unless the World Food Programme finds partners in Sudan to handle distribution. (dpa)