United Nations Radio

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes(photo), today continued his week- long visit to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

He also visited the town of Zalingei in West Darfur where he met with Government and civic leaders.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator called attention to the devastating effect of the conflict on the environment.

UN Spokesperson Michele Montas has more.

"Earlier in the day, Mr. Holmes met with local governmental officials. He also visited Taiba, the only Arab internally displaced camp in Darfur and met with families and the elderly who told him about the daily challenges they face including food and particularly the need for secondary school education for their children."

On Thursday John Holmes is scheduled to leave Darfur for a two day visit to South Sudan.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the decree signed on Tuesday by Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to appoint the National Electoral Commission.

He said the move, which is a key requirement for organizing free and fair elections next year, constitutes major progress towards implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Agreement signed in January 2005 ended over two decades of war between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in South Sudan.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Bissera Kostova.

(duration: 1'30")