Council Consultations on Sudan
Tomorrow (17 January) Council members are scheduled to be briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos in consultations. It seems that Amos is likely to provide more details on her visit to Khartoum in early January. During her visit she met with representatives of the government of Sudan to discuss the situation in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, with a particular focus on food insecurity and malnutrition.
It is likely that Amos will address the four-point plan agreed between the UN and the government of Sudan to address the food crisis in the troubled states. (The UN and Sudan have agreed to share information on the humanitarian situation, to establish a mechanism for dialogue and to discuss ways of reaching people in rebel-held areas.) It seems that Amos may cover how the Sudanese government’s plans to fulfill the promises made.
Some members are hoping for a more comprehensive briefing that would also cover the recent “revenge” attack on 13 January in Jonglei state where more than 50 people were killed and 50,000 displaced. (These attacks are related to a “cattle vendetta” between the Lou Nuer and Murle communities and the Council had addressed earlier attacks in a press statement issued on 10 January.) The UN has launched an emergency operation to help those who had to flee their homes, with extra peacekeepers being sent to the area.
It appears that Amos is hoping to do a follow-up visit to Sudan at the end of January or early February. Members who feel that it is important for the Council to be kept informed on the situation in Sudan may be interested in hearing from Amos again on her return.
At press time there was no talk of a Council decision but it is possible that—in the light of information coming out of Amos’s briefing—some Council members may be interested in beginning discussions on a press statement.