18 January 2010 - The Deputy Head of Mission of the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Yoichi Nakashima, and Second Secretary, Ms. Mayuko Okabe, arrived yesterday in El Fasher, North Darfur, beginning a five-day tour of the region, facilitated by UNAMID.

The visit aims at familiarizing the diplomats with the general situation in Darfur and enhancing their government’s support of the peace process. They met with UNAMID officials, representatives of civil society organisations and various political party leaders in an effort to gain a clearer picture of the political and humanitarian state of affairs.

Ahmed Rufai Abubaker, officer in charge of UNAMID’s Political Affairs Division, noted that “Japan is an important stakeholder in the collective effort to help the people of Darfur to solve its issues, and has been providing aid to the troubled region for several years.”

In the coming days, the two diplomats will also visit UNAMID’s regional office in Nyala, South Darfur.