Sudan, UN agree to enhance effectiveness of humanitarian operation in Darfur

From China View 8 May 2009 - Sudan, UN agree to enhance effectiveness of humanitarian operation in Darfur:

KHARTOUM, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government and the United Nations (UN) agreed on Thursday to enhance the effectiveness of the humanitarian operation in the restive Sudanese region of Darfur and to provide necessary help for those affected by the conflict.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the Highest Committee for Humanitarian Action in Darfur, its first meeting in Khartoum after absorbing the United States, Britain, China, Russia, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League as new members of the committee besides Sudan and the UN.

The committee also decided to hold monthly meetings to follow up and assess the humanitarian situation in Darfur in western Sudan and to address the problems through a collective mechanism.

Hassabu Mohammed Abdullah, the Sudanese commissioner for humanitarian aid, told reporters at the end of the meeting that "the committee agreed to conduct a joint assessment and treat the problems through coordinated means and to review the statistics of displaced persons and refugees to assess their needs."

He reiterated the readiness of the Sudanese government to work with the Highest Committee in order to improve the situation in Darfur and enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian operation by facilitating the relief organizations operating in the region. Editor: Yan