IOM is re-establishing the transport mechanism allowing the distribution of emergency shelter and non-food items to more than 660,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the three Darfur states in Sudan. Transportation of the critical life-saving humanitarian assistance to Darfur has been affected by the expulsion earlier this year of several non-government organizations from the region, which in turn has impacted on the effectiveness of the non-food item pipeline reaching those in need. With most of the funding for the USD 1.6 million operation from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), IOM will work to ensure the delivery of assistance before the June rains begin and to replenish warehouses. The Organization expects to move 14,000 MT of cargo to all three Darfur states for three months. IOM has, in the meantime, continued its other operations in Darfur including the protection monitoring of IDP relocations and spontaneous small-scale IDP returns. The Organization is also assisting voluntary returns from Darfur to South Sudan when needed, registering IDPs and others receiving aid in addition to carrying out population tracking and village assessments. Information gathered from these activities allows IOM in Sudan to develop tools to manage displaced populations and to better plan for large scale returns when conditions in Darfur become conducive. For further information, please contact: Stephanie Gliege IOM Sudan Tel: +249 (0) 912 532 711 E-mail: "mailto:sgliege@iom.int">sgliege@iom.int