UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY ARRIVES IN SUDAN

UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY ARRIVES IN SUDAN

NEW YORK, 12 February (OCHA) -– Ambassador Tom Eric Vraalsen, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for Sudan, arrived in the Sudan today.

His mission follows up on the promise made on February 9 by the President of the Republic of the Sudan, Omer Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir, to provide access to aid workers so that they can reach millions of suffering civilians in the Darfur region.

President Bashir’s promise represents a breakthrough, since for months, aid agencies have been prevented from reaching large numbers of displaced civilians in what is one of the worst emergencies in Africa.  The humanitarian community has been largely unable to assist internally displaced persons in Darfur because they have been prevented from delivering adequate aid up to now.

He will also discuss with the authorities putting in place an all-inclusive humanitarian ceasefire for Darfur so that aid agencies can have unimpeded access to those in need.

Nearly 3 million people affected by the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region have remained beyond the reach of aid agencies trying to provide essential humanitarian aid.  United Nations aid agencies estimate that they have been able to reach only 15 per cent of people in need.  Half of Darfur’s 6 million people are directly affected by the conflict.  The number of people who have fled from Darfur to Chad has nearly doubled to 110,000 in the past three months.  More than 700,000 people have been internally displaced in the past year.

Since the fighting started between rebel groups, militias and the Government of the Sudan a year ago, the United Nations has consistently received reports of systematic raids against civilian populations.  These attacks have reportedly included burning and looting of villages, large-scale killings, and abductions.  Humanitarian workers have also been targeted, with staff being abducted and relief trucks looted.

The Darfur region covers roughly one fifth of the Sudan’s territory and is home to 6 million people.  The Sudan, Africa’s largest country, is also home to its longest running conflict.  It is estimated that more than 2 million people have died because of the Sudan’s conflict and that 4 million people have been driven from their homes.

Ambassador Vraalsen goes at the request of Jan Egeland, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.

For further information, please call Stephanie Bunker, tel.: +917 367 5126 (OCHA New York); or Elizabeth Byrs, tel.: +41 22 917 2653 (OCHA Geneva).

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