UN mission to Nuba mountains

SUDAN: IRIN News Briefs, 24 June 1999

The UN is undertaking its first humanitarian assessment mission to the Nuba mountains since the early 1980s.

In a press release, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed his satisfaction and welcomed the cooperation being extended to the mission by both the Sudan government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

Annan said he hoped the UN humanitarian agencies would be able to count on their continued support for the provision of relief to all those in need of humanitarian aid throughout the Sudan.

The 21-24 June mission includes representatives of OCHA, UNICEF and WFP. They will assess humanitarian needs of vulnerable civilian populations in five villages in the rebel-held area of the Nuba mountains.