IOM is re-establishing the transport mechanism allowing the
distribution of emergency shelter and non-food items to more than
660,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the three Darfur
states in Sudan.

Transportation of the critical life-saving humanitarian
assistance to Darfur has been affected by the expulsion earlier
this year of several non-government organizations from the region,
which in turn has impacted on the effectiveness of the non-food
item pipeline reaching those in need.

With most of the funding for the USD 1.6 million operation from
the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), IOM will work to
ensure the delivery of assistance before the June rains begin and
to replenish warehouses.

The Organization expects to move 14,000 MT of cargo to all three
Darfur states for three months.

IOM has, in the meantime, continued its other operations in
Darfur including the protection monitoring of IDP relocations and
spontaneous small-scale IDP returns. The Organization is also
assisting voluntary returns from Darfur to South Sudan when needed,
registering IDPs and others receiving aid in addition to carrying
out population tracking and village assessments. Information
gathered from these activities allows IOM in Sudan to develop tools
to manage displaced populations and to better plan for large scale
returns when conditions in Darfur become conducive.

For further information, please contact:

Stephanie Gliege

IOM Sudan

Tel: +249 (0) 912 532 711

E-mail: "mailto:sgliege@iom.int">sgliege@iom.int