UN wins rebel commitment to ensure access to half a million children for vaccination campaign Khartoum, 10. August 2004 / The UN in Khartoum announced today that representatives of the rebel movements in Darfur have agreed to allow the vaccination of hundreds thousands of children cut-off from regular health services in Darfur. Agreement was reached with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) after a UN team met their representatives in the Eritrean capital of Asmara last Friday. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Mr. Jan Pronk welcomed the agreement of the rebel movements, and the Sudanese Health Ministry that endorsed the initiative. “This is a good example of the kind of cooperation needed from both sides to deliver the relief that is urgently needed. It is crucial that vaccines reach all children in all areas of Darfur” said Pronk, speaking from Khartoum. A massive vaccination campaign has already reached millions of children in Darfur but it is estimated that half a million children missed out because they are living behind rebel lines. UN agencies are now planning to vaccinate the remaining children against measles and polio, and to boost their immune systems with vitamin A drops. Under the agreement reached with the rebel movements and the Sudanese Health Ministry, UNICEF and WHO will lead the immunization activities. Both agencies are assembling, training and equipping the health teams that will carry out the vaccination campaign in areas under rebel control, beginning with North Darfur around August 21. The Asmara meeting also addressed another humanitarian access issue: the delivery of food. The World Food Programme confirmed operational modalities with the rebel leaders so that food convoys would not be impeded. * * *