Information_Bulletin_SUD 12 Jul 18 Ver 05.E FINAL ENG

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WHO Regional Committee
for the Eastern Mediterranean Sixty-fifth session,
Khartoum, Sudan 15–18 October 2018
Information bulletin 1
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Introduction
Provinces
Sudan has a federal government structure with a total of 18 states. The capital of Sudan is Khartoum.
Population
The current population of Sudan is 41 452 272, based on the latest United Nations estimates. Sudan’s
population is equivalent to 0.54% of the world’s total population.
Neighbouring countries
Sudan is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the
south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest.
It is the third largest country in Africa covering 1 886 068 square kilometres (728 215 square miles). The White
Nile flows through the country, emptying into Lake Nubia in the north, the largest manmade lake in the world.
The River Nile divides the country into eastern and western halves.
Landscape
Sudan has a 853 km coastline bordering the Red Sea. The terrain is generally flat plains, broken by several
mountain ranges. In the west, the Deriba Caldera located in the Marrah Mountains, is the highest point in
Sudan at 3042 metres or 9980 feet. In the east are the Red Sea Hills. The Blue and White Nile rivers meet in
Khartoum to form the River Nile, which flows northwards through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The Blue
Nile’s course through Sudan is nearly 800 km long and is joined by the Dinder and Rahad Rivers between
Sennar and Khartoum. The White Nile within Sudan has no significant tributaries. There are several dams on
the Blue and White Niles. Among them are the Sennar and Roseires Dams on the Blue Nile, and the Jebel
Aulia Dam on the White Nile.
Economy
Sudan is an agricultural country. Its major exports include agricultural products like cotton, peanuts, Arabic
gum and sesame seeds.
Language
Arabic and English are the official working languages of the country. Other languages spoken in Sudan belong
to three families of African languages: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger-Congo.
Culture
Sudan is culturally diverse and has diverse linguistic, ethnic, social, cultural, and religious characteristics.
Location
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing
north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile, flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two rivers
meet is known as “al-Moqran” (‫المقرن‬ the confluence). The River Nile continues to flow north towards Egypt
and the Mediterranean Sea. Divided by the two Nile rivers, Khartoum is a tripartite metropolis consisting of
Khartoum proper, and linked by bridges to Khartoum North al-Kharṭūm Baḥrī and Omdurman to the west.
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Things to do: sightseeing and shopping
The venue of the Sixty-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee is Al Salam Rotana Hotel. This
hotel is ideally located just a few minutes away from Khartoum International Airport via a stretch of
Africa Road, a short drive to Downtown Khartoum, and walking distance from Afra Mall. Al Salam
Rotana Khartoum is perfectly situated for both business and leisure.
Lake Nasser Dinder National Park The National Museum of
Sudan
Sanganeb Reef in Port Sudan
Pyramids of Meroe Museum of the Khalifa’s House Mojo Gallery Khartoum
Tuti Island
Marra Mountains Al Waha Mall Afraa Mall
Al Housh Restaurant Corinthia Restaurant Ozone Restaurant
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Date and location
Registration for
Participation
The Sixty-fifth session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern
Mediterranean is scheduled to take place in Al Salam Rotana Hotel,
Nile Ballroom, Khartoum, Sudan, from Monday 15 October to
Thursday 18 October 2018, inclusive.
Address
Africa Street, P.O. Box
12290, Khartoum, Sudan
Tel: +2491 8700 7777
Fax: +2491 8700 7788
Email: res.alsalam@rotana.com
To register for the Sixty-fifth session of the Regional
Committee please use the following link:
http://reg.unog.ch/e/RC65_Registration kindly fill out the
mandatory fields and submit your registration no later than
31 August 2018, the WHO Secretariat will confirm acceptance
of your registration via e-mail.
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Membership
and attendance
Credentials
Working languages
Agenda and
other documents
Submissions
by delegations
Travel arrangements
The Regional Committee consists of representatives, one from
each country of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. The
representatives may be accompanied by alternates and advisers
(Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure).
The Regional Director, in consultation with the Regional
Committee, may invite States, not Members of the Committee, to
participate without vote in the sessions of the Committee. The
Regional Director, in consultation with the Regional Committee,
may also invite nongovernmental organizations to participate in
the deliberations of the Committee (Rule 2 of the Rules of
Procedure).
Member States shall communicate to the Regional Director, not
less than 15 days before the date fixed for the opening of the
session of the Committee, the name of their representatives,
including all alternates and advisers. Similarly organizations and
States invited to be represented at the session shall communicate
the names of the persons by whom they will be represented. The
credentials of representatives and names of alternates, advisers
and observers should be submitted to the Regional Director if
possible not less than two days before the opening of the session
of the Regional Committee. Such credentials will be issued by the
Head of State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of
Health or any other appropriate authority (Rule 3 of the Rules of
Procedure).
The working languages of the Committee are Arabic, English and
French. Statements made in any of these languages will be
interpreted simultaneously into the other two languages.
Official documentation of the session will be available in Arabic,
English and French on the Regional Committee website
[http://www.emro.who.int/about-who/rc65/index.html] from early
September 2018. Documents will not be dispatched by post.
Furthermore, participants are kindly requested to bring all
documents to the session, as only a limited number of hard copies
will be available.
It would be appreciated if delegations wishing to propose draft
resolutions to be distributed to the Regional Committee could
hand them in to the Secretariat at least 2 days before the proposal
is discussed, to allow time for translation, reproduction in the
working languages and circulation to delegations.
Delegates/participants should make their own travel arrangements
for both outward and return journeys. Travellers are strongly
advised to have their return flights confirmed before departing for
Sudan, as onward reservations and deviations may be difficult to
obtain at short notice. The Secretariat will provide assistance with
travel arrangements during the session, if needed.
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Arrival in Khartoum
Entry visa to Khartoum
Privileges and
immunities
Insurance
Accommodation
Upon arrival at Khartoum International Airport, transport to the
hotel will be made available provided that participants have
supplied their travel details on their registration form.
The journey time by car from the airport to the hotel is around 10
minutes.
Representatives and other participants should obtain a visa for
Sudan prior to departure from their home countries.
All Members officially attending the Regional Committee in
Khartoum, Sudan, as well as their alternates and advisers, will
enjoy the privileges and immunities granted to representatives at
meetings convened by United Nations specialized agencies, which
are set out in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of
the Specialized Agencies.
The Secretariat cannot accept liability for personal accidents or
loss of or damage to the private property of participants and
accompanying persons, either during or indirectly arising from
attendance at the Sixty-fifth session of the Regional Committee
for the Eastern Mediterranean. Participants should make their own
arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.
The official hotel for the event is Al Salam Rotana Hotel,
however, hotel accommodation is also possible at the following
hotels:
1. Corinthia Hotel (5*)
Website: https://www.corinthia.com/en/hotels/khartoum
Email: reservations.khartoum@corinthia.com
2. Kanon Hotel (3*)
Website: http://www.kanonhotel.com
Email: mail@kanonhotel.com
3. Paradise Hotel (3*)
Website: http://paradisehotels-sd.com/
Email: info@paradisehotels-sd.com
Hotel rates are available on the following link:
http://reg.unog.ch/e/RC65_Registration Participants are strongly
encouraged to complete and submit the registration form not later
than 31 August 2018.
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Transportation
Banking facilities
Climate
Representatives and other participants are responsible for settling
hotel bills directly with the hotel, noting that credit cards are
not accepted in Sudan and payment must be made in cash in
US dollars.
Cancellation policy: In event of cancellation/amendment or
reduction after guarantee/confirmation of the booking, guests
will be charged as follows:
100% of the room charges for the entire duration of stay will
apply for cancellation of the reservation if less than 30 days
before the check-in date in October, 2018.
All guaranteed guest rooms, which are not cancelled as per the
timeframe mentioned above, or a no show situation, are subject to
charges. Charges equivalent to the entire duration of stay for the
agreed room rate will be imposed for no-show guests. Rooms for
subsequent nights will be released for general sale.
Transportation will be provided upon arrival and departure and for
any official functions which are held outside the hotel, noting that
transportation will only be made available to and from the official
venue of the Regional Committee, namely Al Salam Rotana
Hotel.
The current exchange rate is Sudanese pound (SDG) 29.8 to US$
1, which is subject to change should there be a revision in rates.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at the hotel or at any bank in
Khartoum or authorized dealers. The hotel bank is open 24 hours.
In October the weather is expected to be hot during the day and
warm in the evening. Temperatures during this time of the year
range between a maximum of 40 ºC and a minimum of 25 ºC.