Mr. Walter Kälin, who serves as the representative of the United Nationsl Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, will begin his U.S. visit in Washington D.C. on January 14, 2008. The purpose of the visit is to raise awareness of the human rights standards that apply to the prevention of and responses to Hurricane Katrina and other disasters that result in people being displaced from their homes and communities. Mr. Kälin will also visit the hurricane-impacted cities of New Orleans, LA., Gulfport, MS, and Biloxi, MS, as well as Houston, TX, where many displaced residents now live, to get a better understanding of the current situation of those who remain displaced from their homes with a particular focus on obstacles to their return and recovery.

2:30pm-3:30pm Briefing with Governmental Officials, members of civil society organizations, and affected communities at 727 15th street, NW, 8th Floor Conference Room.

For more information Contact:

Michele Roberts, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, 202-775-005, mroberts-aehr@cox.net

Khalid Koser, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, 202-797-6052, kkoser@brookings.edu