Sudan: Until peace is achieved, all must help ensure humanitarian aid for Darfur

(Khartoum and New York: 22 March 2007): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes arrived in Khartoum, capital of the Sudan, yesterday, on the first leg of his two-week, three-country mission to Africa.

On the first working day of his trip, the Emergency Relief Coordinator met with several senior Government of National Unity officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lam Akol; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Kosti Manibe; and the Minister of National Security, Mr. Salah Gosh. He also met with representatives of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations working in Sudan.

The meetings focused on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, where the operating environment for the world's largest humanitarian assistance programme has become ever more challenging over the past ten months. While security incidents targeting aid workers have increased, bureaucratic obstacles such as visas, travel permits, and customs restrictions have become more cumbersome, and threaten to slow, or even stop, humanitarian operations.

"Until there is peace in Darfur, we need all parties to do their best to ensure the humanitarian effort goes forward unimpeded," said Mr. Holmes. "I am sure we can resolve these problems in the spirit of constructive partnership. We have had some useful discussions about the humanitarian situation in Darfur and I'm looking forward to going to the field and assessing the situation myself."

Mr. Holmes is expected travel to Darfur to visit several field locations on Saturday 24 March and Sunday 25 March.

Tomorrow, Friday 23 March, Mr. Holmes plans to travel to Juba, Southern Sudan, for the day. While in Juba, he plans to meet with the First Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Mr. Salva Kiir, and the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Mr. Riek Machar. A brief press encounter will be held in Juba at 15:00 local time (GMT+3) before the Emergency Relief Coordinator returns to Khartoum.

For further information, please call: Dawn Blalock, OCHA-Sudan, +249 187 089 453, +249 912 174 454 (mobile), +88 216 5119 1670 (Thuraya), Maurizio Giuliano, OCHA-Southern Sudan, +249 912 179 084 (mobile), +88 216 433 4197 (Thuraya), Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.