|
|
UN:
UN APPEALS FOR SAFE, UNHINDERED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS AMID FIGHTING IN CHAD:
05/12/2007 (MaximsNews Network)
|
|
UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 05 December 2007 -- The
ongoing fighting in eastern Chad is preventing humanitarian workers from
reaching more than 400,000 refugees and displaced persons, setting the stage for
a situation that could worsen rapidly and lead to significant loss of life, the
United Nations warned today.
According
to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), armed
conflict is hampering the ability of aid workers to move freely and safely in
most parts of eastern Chad, cutting off vulnerable groups from vital
humanitarian assistance.
The UN
and its partners are aiding over 230,000 Sudanese refugees and 180,000
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the eastern part of the country where
humanitarian conditions have deteriorated over the course of this year.
Staff of
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) have been unable to reach the affected population due to recent
fighting, while restrictions on movement have impacted the ability of the UN
World Food Programme (WFP) to distribute the December food aid rations. This
lack of aid could contribute to security problems in and around the camps as
resources become scarce, OCHA warned.
“Unless
immediate action is taken to ensure unrestricted and safe access to the
vulnerable populations, the humanitarian situation will rapidly deteriorate and
could lead to significant loss of lives,” said Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes.
Mr.
Holmes appealed to the Chadian Government to “take all necessary measures to
preserve humanitarian space in the east of the country and to increase its
commitment to protect civilians in combat zones.
“I
also appeal to rebel movements operating in the area to act in accordance with
their obligations under international humanitarian law,” the UN humanitarian
chief added.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
~~~~~
MaximsNews.com, An Independent Voice from the
U.N., provides commentary and analysis from
leading world figures: King Abdullah II
(Jordan), HRH Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein
(Jordan), Sir Brian Urquhart, Hans Blix, Amb.
Richard Holbrooke, Anwar Ibrahim, Bianca Jagger,
Dr. Nafis Sadik, Shashi Tharoor, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Noeleen Heyzer,
Masood Haider, Kerry
Kennedy, Ian Williams, Stephen Schlesinger, Sen.
Timothy E. Wirth, Marc Morial, Amb. Jayantha
Dhanapala (Sri Lanka), Amb. Pierre Schori
(Sweden), Amb. William H. Luers, Susan Roosevelt
Weld, Rory Kennedy, Mehri
Madarshahi, J. Michael Adams, Gloria Feldt,
Jeffrey Laurenti, Rodney D. Smith, Ashley
Bommer, Rory
O'Connor, Genevieve Stamper, Max Stamper and
others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MaximsNews®
LLC
NEWS NETWORK FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
MaximsNews Network®
LLC is a Global News Network reaching over 30,000 in the International
Community. It is associated with MediaChannel.org and Globalvision News
Network, global news and media information services with more than 350
news affiliates in 135 countries. Established in 1999.
The views expressed are the responsibility of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of MaximsNews® LLC.
MaximsNews.com
U.N. ® LLC www.MaximsNews.com
| MaximsNews@MaximsNews.com |
Please
contact us about Republishing:
Syndication@MaximsNews.com ©Copyrights 1999 - 2007, MaximsNews® LLC. All rights
reserved.
|
