UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL EGELAND ARRIVES IN CHAD

 

NEW YORK, 10 May (OCHA) -- Today, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland arrived in Abeche in eastern Chad, where he visited a refugee camp and internally displaced persons’ settlements, and met with local officials and aid organizations.  “Only 16 per cent of the humanitarian funds required to feed these people has been received so far,” he said. 

Yesterday evening, in Khartoum, Mr. Egeland had a positive and productive meeting with Vice President Ali Osman Taha.  Mr. Egeland raised a number of issues related to security, access and resources for the humanitarian operation in Darfur and other areas of the Sudan.  He received assurances from the Vice President on several of these issues.  In particular, the Vice President promised that the Government of the Sudan would consider contributing emergency food supplies to cover the current gaps in the food pipeline, before additional supplies donated by the United States and other Governments arrived in the Sudan.

The Vice President also gave assurances that the moratorium on access restrictions for Darfur would be fully implemented, and that other access issues would be addressed, with regard to Kalma Camp in South Darfur.  Vice President Taha confirmed what the Governor of South Darfur had indicated to Mr. Egeland the previous day, namely that the Norwegian Refugee Council would be reinstated as Camp coordinator.

Mr. Egeland’s visit to Chad is the last stop on his five-day mission to Sudan and Chad.  In Sudan, the Under-Secretary-General visited camps in South Darfur and met Sudanese officials, and UN and non-governmental partners.

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.

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For information media • not an official record