INFORMATION NOTE

UN Human Rights Envoy makes first Darfur visit

El Fasher, 24 June 2011 – The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, today landed in El Fasher, North Darfur

“The purpose of my visit is to come and see for myself this very difficult situation, how people's human rights have been affected by displacements and to work with partners within the UN and others to find ways to help protect those rights even under very difficult circumstances,” said Ms. Kang, adding that “because the displacement of the Darfur people has been ongoing for such a long time, this is a particular concern for the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.”

The delegation was welcomed in UNAMID’s headquarters by the Mission’s Deputy Joint Special Representative Mohamed Yonis and senior leadership to discuss developments in the region’s security, humanitarian and human rights conditions, current challenges to the Mission’s mandate and how they may be overcome.

Ms. Kang also paid a courtesy call on the deputy Wali (Governor) of North Darfur and discussed increasing collaboration between local authorities and UN humanitarian workers.

The delegation later visited Zamzam internally displaced persons camp, located on the outskirts of El Fasher and home to more than 100,000 people. There, Ms. Kang spoke with UNAMID peacekeepers stationed at the nearby team site as well as community leaders and several residents newly displaced by recent clashes.

“I'm shocked by the conditions in this camp,” she remarked. “Certainly, I think the concern of the international community should be to come back. I think it has dissipated quite a bit. Especially, here with so many new people coming in to settle. The UN system, protection cluster and humanitarian assistance setup is trying as best as it can, but the challenge is just so enormous. I’ve seen many camps in many countries. But this is just on a totally different scale.”

This tour of the region marks the final leg of a visit to the Sudan, during which the delegation also travelled to South Sudan.

Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org; tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529; mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020

Mayada Umbadda, Media Relations, umbadda@un.org, mobile: +249 (0)91 250 1966