SG/SM/10404
AFR/1359
IHA/1181
5 April 2006
Secretary-General Regrets Relief Coordinator Denied Darfur Entry, Will Take up Matter with Sudan's President
NEW YORK, 4 April (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General regrets that the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, was not permitted by the Government of Sudan to visit Darfur.
The pressing and urgent humanitarian requirements of Darfur are a priority for the United Nations and coordination efforts to sustain this large programme were at the centre of Mr. Egeland's visit.
The Secretary-General will be seeking to speak to President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir on this matter.
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