NEW YORK/GENEVA (June 6 2004) - The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, welcomed today's release of 16 humanitarian workers detained by the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) in North Darfur, Sudan. They were released this morning and appear to be in good health and were not harmed while being held by the SLM/A.

Egeland warned that the detention and delayed release of the workers was "totally unacceptable" and "contradicts solemn promises" made by the SLM/A last week. The incident not only threatened the safety and security of humanitarian workers, but has interrupted and delayed aid to desperately needy civilians in Darfur.

"The detention and the delayed release of our staff contradicts the solemn promise to facilitate all relief work made by SLM/A leaders and the other parties to the conflict last week during meetings with donors and UN officials in Geneva," Egeland said

All parties to the conflict, including the SLM/A, have agreed to facilitate and protect humanitarian staff and supplies and allow them freedom of movement, both in the N'jamena ceasefire and humanitarian protocol signed on April 8 and subsequently.

"Too much time has already been lost in this race against the clock to save more than a million lives threatened by indiscriminate violence, starvation and disease. We expect the government and the rebel groups to end restrictions on access and protect civilians and relief workers as we try to dramatically increase relief operations," he added.

The 16 humanitarian workers, 13 national and three international staff, were conducting assessments to prepare the way for delivery of relief assistance for displaced people in the vicinity of Al Hilief in North Darfur when they were detained by an armed SLA unit on Thursday 3 June.

The team represented a variety of agencies including the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children-UK and ECHO, the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission.