UN MISSION ARRIVES IN SUDAN

KHARTOUM, 28 April (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- A United Nations high-level mission has arrived in the Sudan to gather first-hand information on the humanitarian situation in Darfur.  The team is led by the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, James Morris, and includes representatives from United NationsHeadquarters and from the UN operational agencies.  The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs in the Sudan, Tom Eric Vraalsen, is also on the mission, which comes in response to an invitation from the Government of the Sudan conveyed to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  The mission will report its findings to the Secretary-General.

The mission will meet with national and local government officials, affected populations and displaced people, non-governmental and international organizations, community leaders, United Nations colleagues, donors and the diplomatic community to review and address issues of civilian protection, humanitarian access and operations.  The mission will visit locations in all three regions of Darfur, to gather first-hand information on the humanitarian situation, and assess the scope of the crisis.  Its terms of reference also include reviewing humanitarian operations; assessing the safety and protection of civilians; means of expanding effective assistance and strengthening operational capacity and coordination.

Mr. Morris and senior mission members met this morning with the Sudanese President, Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, in a cordial atmosphere before departure to Darfur.  The mission will return to Khartoum on Friday, 30 April, and depart the country from Saturday evening onwards.

For further information, please call:  Ben Parker, Khartoum/Darfur, tel. 254 733 609 869

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