HUMAN RIGHTS FACT-FINDING MISSION ON SITUATION IN DARFUR LEAVES GENEVA

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 21 April (OHCHR) -- A fact-finding team from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) left Geneva late yesterday for the Sudan to continue its enquiries into the situation of human rights in the Darfur region of the country.

DARFUR:  HUMANITARIAN NEEDS INCREASE AS RELIEF SUPPLIES DWINDLE

PROSECUTOR RECEIVES REFERRAL OF SITUATION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

(Reissued as received.)

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS LOOMING IN WESTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

NEW YORK, 19 April (OCHA) -- A humanitarian crisis is looming as more than 40,000 Congolese have been expelled from Angola into desperate conditions in the Bandundu and WesternKasaiProvinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Secretary-General urges uganda rebels to respond positively

to president’s call for dialogue

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

disarmament COMMENCES IN LIBERIA, PAVES WAY FOR GREATER

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS, ASSISTANCE

MONROVIA, 16 April (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- Ex-combatants of Liberia’s three armed factions took forward steps yesterday towards contributing to the future peace and stability of the war-torn country by surrendering their weapons, during the resumption of disarmament activities administered by United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Press Statement on NortheRn Uganda by Security Council President

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Gunter Pleuger (Germany):

The Security Council was briefed today on the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda by the Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Jan Egeland.

UNITED NATIONS ISSUES APPEAL FOR DARFUR, SUDAN

(Delayed in transmission.)

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ESTABLISHES

 

INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY FOR CÔTE D’IVOIRE

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 8 April (UN Information Service) – The Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, has established an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations committed during an anti-government protest in Côte d’Ivoire two weeks ago.

Under-Secretary-general ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS

ON CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS FOR DARFUR, SUDAN

NEW YORK, 8 April (Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs) -- “I am encouraged by the positive signals that a humanitarian ceasefire may soon be signed by parties to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan”, said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland.