Humanitarian Affairs Ministry And UN Charts Way Forward For Darfur

20 July 2010 - (Khartoum) – The federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has agreed on how to work jointly with the UN agencies and donors to improve the alarming humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Rising abduction of aid workers in the war torn Darfur region has disrupted relief work in the area.

In a meeting with the UN agencies and donors in Khartoum on Monday, the minister for humanitarian affairs, Joseph Lual Achuil confirmed that the meeting was a success and that they have reached an agreement on the way forward.

[Lual Achuil]: “Our meeting was very fruitful. we were able to talk about our visit to the three states in Darfur, the establishment of the high level committees that are supposed to take care of all the activities and programs in those states, the link and the coordination between the high level committee in Khartoum and the state committees and what we should do in order for this support to reach the state committees. We also agreed on measures to take and how to improve the insecurity cost to the humanitarian workers and if there are areas which are not accessible then they should be searched so that they are accessed. The concern of the humanitarian workers and that of the government are the same; we all want to assist the communities that cannot be reached."

Lual also called on the government to ensure the release of all those abducted and join the government in Doha so that a lasting solution to their complaints is sought.

According to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Charpentier, the meeting emphasized the security condition of the humanitarian workers and how they can reach all those in need.

[George Charpentier]: “A lot of emphasis in the agenda was put on the security conditions surrounding the work of humanitarian workers and also access to people in need. I must say the exchanges were very frank, very positive and I am very encouraged by the dynamics of this meeting. In particular I welcome the fact that the humanitarian infrastructure has now been put in place and it is taking shape and the work of state committees and high level committees are going to enhance humanitarian operations here in Sudan."

That was the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, George Charpentier, speaking during a meeting between the ministry of humanitarian affairs, UN agencies and donors in Khartoum on Monday.