Sudan rejects UN humanitarian official visit to Darfur
April 3, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government has refused to the UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, Jan Egeland, to visit Sudan’s troubled region of Darfur, although he has the necessary visa, the United Nations said Monday.
“UNMIS regrets the decision of the Government of Sudan not to welcome the visit of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Jan Egeland”, a press statement by UNMIS said.
“I’ve been barred from going to south Darfur, west Darfur and also I have been told that I am not welcome in Khartoum,” Egeland told Reuters during a visit to southern Sudan, repoted Reuters from Rumbek in southern Sudan.
“I think it is because they (the Sudanese government) don’t want me to see how bad it is in Darfur,” he added.
Egeland’s flight into Sudan was not given authorization to land in Sudan yesterday. In addition, the governor of South Darfur stated that he strictly opposes Egeland’s visit.
The Sudanese Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York further stated that Egeland would be welcome neither in Darfur nor in Khartoum where he had planned to have discussions with the authorities.
The UN official was scheduled to visit Sudan for the period of 2-6 April. He had notified the Sudanese authorities well in advance and discussed the upcoming visit with the Minister of Foreign Affairs during his visit to New York early March.
Egeland had planned to visit Sudan in order to assess the humanitarian relief operation in South Sudan as well as in Darfur, which amounts to approximately US$1.5 billion annually. He, is the highest UN official responsible for this operation. He is presently engaged in efforts to raise additional international funds for humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan.
(ST)