Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern today visits Darfur, which has been described by the UN as the world's worst humanitarian disaster region.
The Co Louth TD, who is on a week-long visit to Sudan and Ethiopia, will meet Irish UN and NGO representatives working in the area.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
Mr Ahern is to visit the Abu Shouk refugee camp for internally displaced people.
He will also receive a briefing from the African Union's African Mission in Sudan in El Fashir.
Mr Ahern has already told Sudan's Government of National Unity that it must allow UN troops to be deployed in the country to monitor a fragile ceasefire with Darfur rebels.
"It is clear that transition to a UN mission is now essential, given the considerable challenges of implementing the Darfur peace agreement and the need to improve security on the ground," he said.
The conflict in Darfur, which broke out in 2003, has killed two million people, and four million others were forced to flee their homes. The Sudanese government is due to submit a six-month plan of action to the UN at the end of the month.
Mr Ahern held talks with Foreign Minister Lam Akol and the UN Secretary General's special representative, Jan Pronk, on Monday.
The Minister travels to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, tomorrow where he will meet Government and Opposition leaders and visit Irish NGO projects.