Press release 05 April 2007
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Gunilla Carlsson to visit Sudan

Gunilla Carlsson is to visit Sudan between 9 and 12 April. The Minister for International Development Cooperation will visit Sudan's conflict-stricken Darfur region, the capital Khartoum and the city of Juba in southern Sudan. The purpose of her visit is to take stock of the difficult humanitarian situation and Swedish humanitarian relief and aid efforts.

The journey will focus on protection of women, children and internally displaced persons. Another important issue concerns the conditions relief workers are operating under. In Darfur Ms Carlsson will visit camps for internally displaced persons in order to form an opinion of what more Sweden and the international community can do to alleviate the situation.

Ms Carlsson will also meet government representatives, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and internally displaced persons.
"The visit gives me an opportunity for more thorough discussion and analysis of developments in Sudan, Sweden's involvement in terms of humanitarian support to the population and support for reconstruction, particularly in southern Sudan", says Ms Carlsson.
"The developments in Darfur are deeply worrying and the international community must remain involved."