Andrews begins his visit to Sudan

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, left for Sudan yesterday with Irish aid agencies.

They have urged him to impress on the Khartoum government the urgent need for progress on humanitarian issues, human rights and a political settlement.

Up to two million people are in severe difficulties in the centre of the famine-stricken region of southern Sudan, and more than a million people have died since 1983 in the civil war.

Trocaire and Concern expressed grave disquiet that a UN assessment team had still not been allowed access to the Nuba mountain region where serious human rights abuses have been reported, despite the fact that agreement had been reached in April to allow the UN to enter.

The director of the aid agency GOAL, Mr John O'Shea, went further and called on the Minister to ignore the sovereignty of the government and to ignore the rebel troops. He said the UN humanitarian forces should be sent in to feed the famine-stricken.

Mr Andrews is the first EU minister to visit the region where he will meet government ministers in Khartoum and rebel forces in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Minister, who is visiting Sudan at the request of the three aid agencies, will also meet agency workers on the ground.

Mr Andrews said he did not have any "magic solution" and could not be an expert after two days in Sudan.

However, he was concerned to ensure that aid to the region was getting to the most needy. Air drops to the regions were not helping the elderly and children to the best effect.

A three-month truce has opened up one of the worst-affected areas at Ajiep and Mr Andrews will be visiting the region.