UNAMID Head briefs UN Security Council on Darfur

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, August 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative (JSR) for Darfur and Chief Mediator, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, briefed on 7 August the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Darfur, as well as measures taken by UNAMID to implement the strategic priorities requested by the Council in its resolution 2148 (2014).

Mr. Chambas explained that the fighting between Government forces and armed movements was reduced considerably in the past months and that the Government of sudan withdrew the Rapid Support Force from active operations in Darfur.

The Head of UNAMID stated that the upsurge in intra and inter-communal violence, mainly between tribes competing for resources, continues in many parts of Darfur. He also stated that insecurity, acts of criminality and movement restrictions by Government forces, armed movements and militia groups are a challenge to the implementation of UNAMID’s mandate and impede the activities of humanitarian agencies.

The JSR highlighted that UNAMID continues to provide physical protection and, in partnership with the UN Country Team, facilitates the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians who sought refuge around its team sites when under threat of attack. The Mission also continues to provide technical support to local reconciliation initiatives and in some instances UNAMID’s support has helped to prevent, mitigate or minimized the potential high toll of fatalities resulting from the violent tribal clashes on the civilian population.

“Eleven years into the conflict in Darfur, the humanitarian situation remains very dire”, the JSR said. He added that with close to 30 per cent of Darfur’s population displaced from their lands and homes and scattered in camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) and IDP-like conditions in many parts of Darfur, the imperative of a political solution to unpin humanitarian efforts cannot be over emphasized.

Mr. Chambas said that the challenge for the international community is to impress upon all the parties involved in the Darfur conflict that a military solution and the status quo is untenable. “The Sudanese parties should be assisted to create the much needed enabling environment for a genuine and inclusive dialogue and to recognize that the process could be a unique opportunity for sustainable resolution of all the conflicts afflicting the Sudan”, he added.