UN Emergency Relief Coordinator on mission to Africa

(New York: 19 March 2007): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is scheduled to depart tomorrow on his first field mission since taking up his post on 1 March.

During his two-week mission, Mr. Holmes plans to travel to the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic. He will begin his mission in Khartoum, capital of the Sudan, where he is expected to meet with senior officials of the Sudanese Government and the United Nations, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and donor Governments. The Emergency Relief Coordinator then plans to travel to Juba, in southern Sudan, where he is expected to meet with senior Government officials and the United Nations team.

Following his return from Juba, Mr. Holmes is expected to travel to various locations in the Darfur region of Sudan, where he plans to meet with representatives of the affected population, as well as national, state and local Government representatives and representatives of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), the United Nations, partner NGOs working in Darfur, and donor representatives.

The Emergency Relief Coordinator is then expected to travel to eastern Chad, where he is scheduled to visit a refugee camp and IDP settlement to meet with affected populations, as well as with Government, United Nations and NGO representatives, before continuing to the capital. In N'Djamena, he is expected to meet with senior Government officials, as well as representatives of the United Nations, NGOs, and donor Governments.

On the final leg of his three-country mission, Mr. Holmes plans to travel to northern Central African Republic, where he is expected to meet with members of communities affected by the civil conflict in that country, many of whom have sought refuge in the bush, as well as with local authorities and NGO and civil society representatives. He will then continue to the capital, Bangui, where he plans to meet with senior Government officials and representatives of the United Nations, NGOs, and donor Governments.

Upon his return, the Emergency Relief Coordinator is expected to brief the Security Council on his mission. At present, several press events are scheduled during the mission, including press encounters in Khartoum, Juba, Goz Beida (Chad), N'Djamena, and Bangui. For a complete list of opportunities in specific locations, please contact: