Sudan, UN celebrate end of the peace mission in the East
July 29, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The UN Secretary General special envoy to Sudan attended a farewell ceremony organized by Kassala State, on the occasion of the end of UN peace mission in eastern Sudan after the withdrawal of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) from the region.
The Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General in Sudan, Jan Pronk, accompanied by a senior level UNMIS delegation, including UNMIS Force Commande, Lt. General Jasbir Lidder, attended today a farewell ceremony organized, at the initiative of the Government of National Unity, by the local Government of Kassala for UNMIS, on the occasion of the completion of its operation in the State of Kassala (Eastern Sudan).
UNMIS Regional Coordination Headquarter in Kassala is the first Sector that has successfully completed its mandated tasks with the withdrawal of all SPLA forces from Eastern Sudan to the South (around 5600 troops), as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
In his farewell speech, the Governor of the State of Kassala, on behalf of the State’s authorities and the local population, praised the performance of UNMIS and the exemplary discipline both its military and civilian personnel have been demonstrating while carrying out their tasks.
He welcomed in particular the United Nations’ assistance in clearing the road between Kassala and Hamesh Koreib from land mines.
Jan Pronk, on behalf of the United Nations, expressed his gratitude for the hospitality extended by the people of Kassala State and the local authorities to UNMIS team.
He indicated that the Mission will complete its pull-out from Kassala State over a period ranging from six to eight weeks and stressed that the United Nations agencies will continue to carry out their humanitarian and developmental programs, said Radhia Achouri, the spokesperson of the United Nations Mission in Sudan
After SPLA withdrawal has been completed; the Government and the Eastern Front are currently engaged in direct peace talks which should lead to a definite and comprehensive settlement of the situation in the East.
The UN remains concerned that nutritional and mortality levels could easily worsen if there is not enough assistance and/or adequate access granted for the humanitarian agencies to the people in need throughout the region.
All UN humanitarian actors have expressed their willingness to continue their activities and to work closely with the authorities as well as with the civil society in order to effectively address the needs of the people in the region.
(ST)