FROM:Unicef.OLS@unicef.unon.org Subject: Press Conference Mission of Mr. Martin Griffiths, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Mr Tun Myat, Director of Resources and External Relations, World Food Programme, to the Sudan 14-16 July 1998 Press Conference 16 July 1998 Khartoum Mr. Griffiths and Mr. Myat traveled to Sudan and Kenya to gain a better grasp of the current humanitarian crisis and review the logistics arrangements which the UN agencies and NGOs have mounted to address the enormous needs in hard-hit areas of Bahr el Ghazal and western Upper Nile. The two senior officials arrived in the region on 13 July and will be departing tonight. During their mission they have spoken with senior officials in the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. The United Nations warmly welcomes the announcement of a temporary cease-fire over Bahr el Ghazal. It notes with some concern, however, that the cease-fire does not cover all areas where there are humanitarian needs and which are affected by the conflict. It is expected that the cease-fire will immediately help to stabilise displacement in Bahr el Ghazal, which has been a major cause of the spiraling famine. An improved security environment will also allow humanitarian agencies to access hard-hit areas for longer periods and to conduct outreach in remote zones. Although the majority of assistance will continue to be delivered through existing corridors, the proposed use of a new corridor may result in cost-savings. The potential opening of three humanitarian corridors to Bahr el Ghazal is positive and is being fully explored. These corridors include: road from Uganda, barge along the Bahr el Ghazal River and rail from Babanusa to Wau. Of the three proposed routes, the most feasible for immediate use is the train. However this corridor may be the most difficult to secure. Other constraints for utilising the corridors are the time limitation of the cease-fires and the necessary passage of relief supplies through areas not covered under the agreements. According to WFP the delivery of lifesaving food supplies will remain heavily reliant on a continuing large-scale airdrop operation for at least the next few months. Tomorrow, WFP will begin to fly an Ilyushin 76 aircraft out of Khartoum to deliver food to Bahr el Ghazal. Another three Ilyushin aircraft will join the fleet in the coming days. In order to address current food needs, the World Food Programme plans to deliver 15,000 Mts of food per month for the next four months to 2.4 million beneficiaries in areas served by Operation Lifeline Sudan. WFP will be delivering this food to 89 locations, of which 37 are in the hard-hit area of Bahr el Ghazal, using a fleet of 13 cargo aircraft based from four locations; Khartoum, Al Obeid, Lokichoggio and Nairobi. In addition, Operation Lifeline Sudan will also be doubling the number of feeding centres to 38 in order to cope with the alarming increase in malnutrition. Whereas the immediate focus of the operation will be on meeting the critical emergency needs during the next four months of the hunger gap, the UN is concerned about predictions of a poor autumn harvest which will almost certainly mean that the substantial relief operations will be needed well beyond October into 1999. The UN is planning a joint crop assessment in September and October in order to gain a better idea of the magnitude of future needs. The United Nations welcomes the continuing cooperation of both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in maintaining open access and providing clearance for the large number of aircraft needed to mount the current humanitarian operation. For more information contact: Trudy Witbreuk UNHCU, Khartoum Ph: (249 11) 783 767 Gillian Wilcox Operation Lifeline Sudan, Nairobi Ph: (254 2) 622 403 Brenda Barton WFP Nairobi Ph: (254 2) 622 594 ------------------------------------------ NEWS RELEASE OPERATION LIFELINE SUDAN WELCOMES SPLM CEASE-FIRE Khartoum/Nairobi 15 July 1998 Operation Lifeline Sudan welcomes the declaration by the SPLM of a temporary unilateral cease-fire in the Bahr el Ghazal area of south Sudan. Any initiative to improve the security of humanitarian operations for the people of Sudan is to be supported and commended. It is hoped that the cease-fire can contribute to reducing tensions and conflict in Bahr el Ghazal so that the relief effort can go ahead without disruptions caused by fighting. While a temporary SPLM cease-fire is to be welcomed, it is not sufficient on its own to bring respite to the people of south Sudan. What is needed is a prolonged period of peace to enable people to begin to recover from the trauma of war. The cease-fire will have no impact in the area of western Upper Nile. There, populations have been displaced, the compounds of OLS agencies destroyed and relief programs halted by intra-factional fighting unrelated to the SPLM. Finally, other areas of southern Sudan with important humanitarian needs are not covered. As long as the conflict continues, neither OLS nor any other form of humanitarian response will be able to meet the needs of all war-affected people. For Further Information Contact: Khartoum: Trudy Witbreuk 249-11-783757 Nairobi: Gillian Wilcox 254-2-622403 - - - - - - - - - - - Distributed by Sudan Infonet An Information Service of the Sudan Working Group--USA SudanInfonet@compuserve.com Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/~SudanInfonet/ Funding provided by: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 7/17/98 11:33 AM