Sudan: Outcomes of the sixth high level meeting on the impementation of the joint communique on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur

The High Level Committee, established by the Joint Communiqué on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur, met 24 April at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The meeting, co-chaired by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator/Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General included the Commissioner General of the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), the Director General of the Joint Procedures Centre (JPC), the Head of the European Union, members of the Diplomatic community, the Arab League, International and National NGOs and the UN.

The High Level Committee members appreciated the work of the technical committee composed of HAC/JPC, UN OCHA, International NGO representatives, in furthering the dialogue on humanitarian assistance recommending it be replicated at state level.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator acknowledged the work and progress to date by the Joint Procedures Centre (JPC). In just over a year much has been achieved. The meeting endorsed the need for continued training and capacity building. The importance of disseminating to the state level decisions made at the High Level Committee was further reiterated. In this context, the HLC will visit Southern Darfur.

The HLC noted the necessity of encouraging more NGOs to participate in the Fast track survey. Currently 14 NGOs out of the 80 operating in Darfur are submitting information and members of the HLC agreed to endeavour to increase compliance on the Fast Track procedures.

The meeting agreed to initiate a joint technical survey for reliable information and data with respect to morbidity and other social indicators in Darfur. They were also informed of a joint technical assessment team that will be sent to Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal to follow up on food security concerns there.

The HAC Commissioner and the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on their successful meeting with the Ministry of Interior and the Director of Police, where measures to mitigate against banditry of WFP contracted trucks were agreed.

The next meeting is scheduled to occur 3 June 2008.