Aid agencies in Sudan always knew there could be repercussions if an arrest warrant was issued for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. But even the most pessimistic wasn't expecting to be thrown out on the spot.
So far 13 agencies have been told to shut up shop since the International Criminal Court indicted Bashir on Wednesday for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
"When you have some big political development like this there's sometimes some fallout. But we did not expect anything of this magnitude or anything this sweeping," said Joy Portella, spokeswoman for MercyCorps, which helps 200,000 people living in camps for those uprooted by the conflict in Darfur.
"The consequences of this are not political consequences they are humanitarian consequences. We've just had to close up shop."
Aid agencies say they are extremely worried for the millions of Sudanese they are leaving in the lurch who depend on them for day-to-day survival.
And some aid workers fear that without international agencies on the ground, the warring parties could unleash further violence in Darfur.
"We're very concerned that the witness effect that these organisations have on the ground will also disappear," said one aid worker who asked to remain anonymous.
Kurt Tjossem of International Rescue Committee (IRC) said that because of "all the rumours and sabre-rattling" in the run-up to the ICC's decision they had pulled international staff out of Darfur and put in place contingency measures, but they had still been taken aback by the expulsions.
"We anticipated just being out of Darfur for a couple of days ... we did not expect something this severe to happen, and I know that none of the other agencies did," added Tjossem, IRC's Regional Director for Horn and East Africa.
IRC helps 650,000 people in Darfur and another 1.1 million people in North and East Sudan.
He said IRC had prepositioned two weeks' worth of fuel for water pumps and a month of medical supplies for clinics so that local people in the camps could keep things running if the agency had to pull out. However, he said camp residents did not have the skills to provide more than the most basic medical care.
Aid workers are particularly concerned about Kalma camp in southern Darfur, home to 90,000 people uprooted by the war. Both the big healthcare providers there, IRC and Medecins Sans Frontieres, have been told to leave. MSF fears a deadly meningitis outbreak could put thousands at risk.
The big international agencies providing water to Kass camp in the south and Zalingei in the west have also been given their marching orders. IRC says each camp is home to 100,000 people.
"The water is going to become an issue sooner rather than later without anyone to fill that gap, and that's very concerning for all of us in the international community, and it really should be of grave concern to the Sudanese government," Tjossem said.
Without clean water, aid workers say the likelihood of epidemics spreading in the camps will increase dramatically.
FEARS FOR LOCAL STAFF
One international aid worker vented her anger at all the hard work being undone in a blog called Thirsty Palmetto.
"Thousands of refugees are pouring into Zam Zam camp (North Darfur) right now as a result of rebel attacks and all the organisations who would have mobilised to feed, clothe, shelter and care for them have just been summarily kicked out," she wrote.
"Those ... organisations who were kicked out were the ... biggest providers out there. Food, water, health, education, shelter, blankets - all of it depends on them. And now it's gone."
As international staff pack their bags they aren't just saying goodbye to their projects but to the local staff who carry out the vast bulk of aid work in Sudan. Most will lose their jobs.
Not only that, but there are fears for the safety of the Sudanese staff left behind once the internationals have gone.
Khartoum's decision to shut down the aid groups will also affect the work of the U.N. agencies, which rely on them to carry out their projects on the ground.
"Without us there as the implementers they certainly have very limited capacity to work. When a body loses its arms and legs it's hard to operate," Portella said.
Several agencies said the Sudanese authorities had ordered them to gather up all their computers, mobile phones, vehicles and other assets. Officials were physically occupying some aid agency offices, counting cash in the safes, asking for bank details and going through accounts.
The expelled agencies are flummoxed as to why they've been targeted. Similarly, those allowed to stay don't know why they have been exempted.
"There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it all. We're doing similar types of work," Portella said. "None of us are politically aligned or have any kind of advocacy agenda or any connection to the International Criminal Court. It's really quite a mystery to everyone involved."
IRC said it would try to persuade Khartoum to change its mind.
"We do hope to resume a dialogue with the government and show them what impact this is having on their own people," Tjossem said. "We've been in Sudan for 28 years and are deeply committed to the people of Sudan."
Other expelled agencies also vowed to make every effort to return.
"There are millions who rely upon us for daily sustenance and just day-to-day survival. To have these people left with nothing and no support it's a humanitarian travesty," Portella added.
"The needs are enormous so we will try our darnedest to get back."
See also FACTBOX-Sudan hit by humanitarian group expulsions
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