UN rights expert in South Sudan over IDPs plight

November 10, 2013 (JUBA) - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is in South Sudan to assess the plight of people displaced in the country.

Chaloka Beyani will, as part of her trip, visit internally displaced persons in the capital, Juba and the conflict-prone state of Jonglei.

“During my eleven day visit, I will gather first-hand information from displaced persons and follow up on the visit by my predecessor”, said the senior UN official.

Thousands of people, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), fled southwards for safety, after war broke out in Sudan’s South Kordofan in June 2011.

The UN expert will reportedly meet representatives from the government, UN partners, the civil society as well as local authorities and present preliminary observations at a press conference to be held in Juba on 15 November.

Beyani, a law professor, was appointed Special Rapporteur by the Human Rights Council in September 2010.

(ST)