SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SUDAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF STEPS TO FACILITATE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO DARFUR REGION

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES SUDAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF STEPS

TO FACILITATE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO DARFUR REGION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement made by the Government of Sudan that immediate steps will be taken to facilitate humanitarian access to the Darfur region, including the issuance of entry visas to all humanitarian workers within 48 hours and waiving permit requirements to travel to and within Darfur.

The Secretary-General trusts that these measures will be implemented immediately, so that more than one million people affected by the crisis in Darfur can receive the aid they so urgently need.  He also calls on donors to respond promptly and generously to the appeals for Darfur and for refugees in Chad, both of which remain severely underfunded.

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