A humanitarian coordinator would oversee things in the country, making sure that the materials being imported were used for their stated purposes.

Mr. Clinton cited continuing reports of atrocities, including one unconfirmed report brought to him by Brian Atwood, the Administration's humanitarian coordinator for the region.

As humanitarian coordinator of the Sudan Liberation Army, Mr. Gamous made it possible for the United Nations and many nongovernmental groups to work in rebel areas.

The common assumption that only those culpable in the 1994 massacre did so is a fallacy, said Pierce Gerety, a regional humanitarian coordinator for the United Nations.

Mukesh Kapila (United Nations humanitarian coordinator) is quoted as saying: "This is more than just a conflict.

Speakers included former United Nations (UN) humanitarian coordinator for Iraq Dr Hans von Sponeck.

"It is possible that any attempt to communicate with the outside world could put staff at risk of their lives," said Stephanie Bunker, spokeswoman for the humanitarian coordinator.

"We're here to observe and assess how we can continue to provide support to Rakhine," said Ashok Nigam, UN humanitarian coordinator.

We hope that the appointment of a new humanitarian coordinator will improve the ability of our UN partners to address the crisis.

Before that appointment he served as the deputy United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Iraq and later as the humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.