UN humanitarian chief travels to Sudan

(New York, 5 May 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes will arrive in Sudan on 6 May for a five-day visit to review humanitarian programmes in both Southern Sudan and Darfur.

The situation in Darfur in particular has been of great concern to the international humanitarian community especially since 4 March, 2009, when the Government of Sudan announced a decision to expel 13 international non-governmental organisations and revoke the permits of three local ones. Mr. Holmes will review the humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the expulsions.

He will meet Sudanese government officials, the humanitarian country team and some representatives from the donor community and regional organisations.

Mr. Holmes, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, will travel to Southern Sudan on 8 May, where he will meet UN humanitarian officials and representatives from the Government of Southern Sudan, before proceeding to Darfur the following day for meetings with local leaders and aid workers. He will also visit Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons in North Darfur.