Khartoum, 19 November 2012 – Joint support to the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), to efforts in mitigating the outbreak of Yellow Fever, to Sudan’s international partners in accessing Darfur and to the upcoming Doha Donor Conference was the focus of Monday’s United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) senior level meeting.

The event, held at the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan, was co-chaired by UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator a.i. Aichatou Mindaoudou and UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan Ali Al-Za’tari.

Both parties raised concern about the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Darfur and reviewed the steps being taken by UNAMID-UNCT to assist the Government of Sudan in mitigating epidemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) representative briefed the meeting participants on the current vaccination campaign designed to reach 2.4 million Darfuris in affected regions. UNAMID is providing air and land logistical support to the operation. Additionally, the Mission is
coordinating with the UN High Commission for Refugees and the Office of the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs to ensure that proper medical attention is given to those most vulnerable,
particularly the internally displaced.

UNCT and UNAMID discussed progress made by the UNCT-UNAMID Joint Working Groups in support of the DDPD. UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator a.i. briefed the meeting on recent developments in the mediation and negotiation process, with an eye toward the scheduled workshop and resumption of talks in Doha in the near future.

The issue of access to Darfur of UNCT and Sudan’s international partners was revisited in line
with the Darfur Joint Assessment Mission, the upcoming Donor Conference and the delivery of
humanitarian assistance and development activities.

UNCT expressed gratitude to UNAMID for accommodating the UNCT’s views into the Mission’s new approach to protection of civilians.
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Communications and Public Information Division Media Contacts:
Michael R Meyer, Director of Communications and Public Information Division, meyer@un.org
Chris Cycmanick, Head, Media Relations, cycmanick@un.org, +249 912 538 436