UN Humanitarian Chief arrives in Khartoum, Sudan

(New York: 15 November 2006): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, met today with senior Government representatives including Kosti Manibe, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Lam Akol, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Following his meeting with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Egeland was able to confirm that the moratorium on access restrictions pertaining to Darfur would be extended for another year, after it expires in the end of January 2007. The moratorium, which is part of the communiqué signed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sudanese President Omar Bashir on the occasion of Mr. Annan's July 2004 visit to the country, provides for a lifting of all access restrictions for humanitarian assistance in Darfur. Mr. Egeland also provided detailed information to the Minister on access impediments that remained in place despite the moratorium, and again urged the Minister to ensure its full implementation at all levels in Khartoum and Darfur.

Also today, Mr. Egeland met with representatives of the United Nations and of the non-governmental organizations working in the Sudan.

Tomorrow, Mr. Egeland is scheduled to travel to El Geneina, capital of West Darfur state, where he is expected to meet with representatives of the traditional and nomadic leadership and the Wali (Governor) of West Darfur, as well as with NGO representatives. He is then scheduled to travel Friday from Geneina to Kebkabiya, Tawila, and El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, before returning to Khartoum on Saturday.

Mr. Egeland arrived yesterday in Khartoum from Kampala, Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni to discuss the ongoing peace process between the Government of Uganda and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and his meeting Monday with LRA Commander Joseph Kony.

Upon his return, Mr. Egeland is scheduled to brief the Security Council on his mission to Uganda and Sudan, his final as Emergency Relief Coordinator.

For further information, please call: 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.