Several aid agencies and the top United Nations humanitarian official in the Palestinian territories therefore demanded the immediate opening of crossings.

During the journey, doctors, psychiatrists and humanitarian officials will debate the trauma of war and the "art of living in peace," organizers said.

Sudan 'blocks' UN top humanitarian official's trip to Darfur saying that "in the light of the Danish cartoons row, it would not be sensitive or safe for a Norwegian such as Mr Egeland to visit."

Even more disturbing to humanitarian officials is whether their presence in some conflicts relieves immediate suffering while supporting the political forces that caused the crisis.

Jan Egeland, a top United Nations humanitarian official, said that Israeli response is in violation of international law.

Any doubt of that should have been dispelled on Monday, when a tour of a Darfur refugee camp by Jan Egeland, the U.N.'s top humanitarian official, was followed by riots.

EU's top humanitarian official arrives to assess Niger crisis 2.

We also call for humanitarian officials to be guaranteed free and secure access to all of the conflict zones, and we appeal to the Commission and to the Council to ensure that the European Union significantly increases its humanitarian aid.

Some humanitarian officials have suggested that it might be a better strategy for the government to help displaced people build new lives where they are now, rather than trying to send them home.

By the end of August 2012, approximately 13,300 people were infected by cholera; humanitarian officials confirmed that 217 had already died by 23 August.