Darfur / Banditry and factional clashes increasing
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, January 27, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Daily press briefing by the office of the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general
I will start with a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on clashes in North Darfur:
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the hostilities which have taken place today between a rebel movement and the Sudanese Armed Forces on the outskirts of El Fasher in North Darfur. This follows clashes earlier this month in South Darfur involving the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi (SLA/MM).
The Secretary-General deplores these continued military actions which continue to put civilian lives at risk and to jeopardize the political process. The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately cease ongoing hostilities and to abide by their obligations under international law.
There are a number of press releases out from the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on these clashes.
As a result of these clashes, UNAMID says, the local population and some combatants have taken refuge at UNAMID camps, a move which could endanger the safety and security of the civilian population that has taken refuge in these camps, as well as the UNAMID troops in these locations.
UNAMID today expressed its grave concern over the disturbing events that have taken place close to the city of El Fasher, as I mentioned earlier, where explosions, shelling, mortars and sounds of fighter jets alerted the inhabitants at early hours of the day.
Reports of the possible attack sent an immediate wave of fear among the people and created a sense of uncertainty of what might come next. The market was closed, the traffic jammed and school children were sent back to their homes.
Banditry and factional clashes have also been increasing in several internally displaced persons camps, and it is likely that these events could cause wide displacements of civilians and have humanitarian implications.
UNAMID recalls its mandate to protect civilians and voices caution that the humanitarian situation might further deteriorate because of the continued violence.
The Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, expressed grave concern over the safety and security of the people in North Darfur and the region at large, warning that such escalations of insecurity would impede delivery of humanitarian assistance to the population.
He called on all warring parties to instantly cease hostilities and end this cycle of violence that would only add to the suffering of the people of Darfur.
SOURCE : United Nations – Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General
