Top UN official in Darfur confers with OIC head

The top United Nations official in the Darfur region of western Sudan, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, today had talks with the chief executive of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) during which the two officials pledged to strengthen the relationship between the two bodies.

Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and OIC Secretary-General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, agreed to forge closer cooperation particularly in the field of early recovery and development in Darfur, during their meeting in Jeddah.

Mr. Gambari reiterated UNAMID's willingness to assist the OIC in implementing its projects in Darfur.

UNAMIDis tasked with keeping the peace in Darfur, where a seven-year conflict between the Government and rebels has left an estimated 300,000 people dead and driven 2.7 million others from their homes.