Italian envoy visits Khartoum, Darfur
May 6, 2009 (EL FASHER) — An Italian dignitary today visited Darfur as the envoy of Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini, paying visits to a Sudanese state official, the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID), and one of the major refugee camps in North Darfur.
Margherita Boniver, who represents Italy as Special Envoy for Humanitarian Emergencies and Vulnerable Situations, today paid a one-day visit to El Fasher, North Darfur. The Special Envoy and her delegation were met at the airport by UNAMID senior officials.
Though this is Boniver’s third visit to Darfur, in recent weeks particularly she has made liaisons in East Africa. Last Friday she met the deputy prime minister of Somalia, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, in Nairobi, along with the Foreign Minister Abdullahi Omar, according to her personal blog. She has also recently visited the Somali region of Puntland and spoken over the phone with the prime minister of Somalia.
Boniver’s itinerary in Khartoum had included meetings with presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail and UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator Ameera Haq. On her visit she also aims to meet with Italian humanitarian groups operating in the country.
The Italian delegation also paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Wali Governor of North Darfur, Idris Abdallah Hassan.
According to a statement from UNAMID, Boniver and her delegation were received by UNAMID Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada, who briefed them on the security, humanitarian and political situation in Darfur. They were also briefed on the status of UNAMID and on its deployment, achievements and challenges.
“Mr. Adada expressed appreciation to the Italian Government and the European Union for their support to UNAMID,” stated the peacekeeping mission.
Boniver reportedly said that the situation had changed in Darfur from her earlier visits, saying “that the worst was over and there was much better cooperation and coordination between the UN Agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs),” according to UNAMID.
She said she was mandated to assess the work of the Italian aid groups working in North Darfur. She reiterated her government’s commitment to the respect for human rights and hope that a comprehensive agreement would be reached soon.
During the delegation’s visit to Zam Zam refugee camp, Boniver met Omdas, Sheikhs and tribal leaders of the camp. They also had a meeting with COOPI, an Italian organization and representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operating in North Darfur.
UNAMID is more than one year on from taking up its mandate from the preceding AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), and over 13,200 of the 19,555 military personnel authorized by the Security Council are now in place across Darfur.
Though it is deployed in areas throughout Darfur, the mission faces restrictions on its freedom of movement, according to the UN Secretary-General in a report covering the months February and March 2009.
13 international aid organizations were expelled from Darfur in March 2009, but others remain.
(ST)