UN urges to facilitate humanitarian activities in Darfur
May 29, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Humanitarian situation in Darfur remains serious, said a UN senior official during a visit to western Sudan on Saturday urging local authorities to facilitate the activities of aid groups.
The recent fighting in eastern Jebel Marra between the government and rebel groups triggered new waves of IDPs who do not receive the needed assistance because insecurity pushed the aid groups to suspend their operations.
In a meeting held with the acting governor of South Darfur, Holmes stressed on the need for the government to authorize and facilitate access for aid groups to the affected population in the region.
“The problem in eastern Jebel Marra is that we don’t know what the situation is because we don’t have access,” he said.
The Under-Secretary-General also expressed serious concern over the safety of aid workers in Darfur who are subjected to kidnapping by armed groups in the region.
Recently an American national working with the NGO Samaritan’s Purse was abducted near Nyala on 18 May.
Holmes arrived in Sudan on Wednesday after visiting Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad.
The visiting international official toured the Sakale Ali Wali settlement, in Nyala, where reside some 1000 families that have been given title to their land for building houses.
“We need to recognize and to support the efforts of IDP communities to build and sustain livelihoods and move beyond hand-outs,” he said. “We can see here a step in that direction and it is encouraging.”
The seven year conflict has displaced 2.7 million from their homeland.
On Sunday, Holmes will hold talks with Sudanese government officials in Khartoum. He also will meet during his final day of visit to Sudan with UN and NGO representatives.
(ST)