UNAMID Strongly Rejects Accusations in a Sudan Tribune Report against its Peacekeepers

 

 

 

 

UNAMID Strongly Rejects Accusations in a Sudan Tribune Report against its Peacekeepers

 

 

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 1, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — According to a Sudan Tribune (ST) news report published on 29 November 2009, “seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were killed Friday in West Darfur following a wrangle between the residents and government troops which attempted to force them to take part in voter registration.”  ST reported that the alleged killings took place in Deleij IDPs camp, some 280 km from El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state.

Sudan Tribune quoted Mr. Hussein Abu Sharati, presented as a spokesperson of Darfur IDPs and Refugees, as saying that “peacekeepers in the area were present but did not intervene to prevent the killing.”

UNAMID strongly rejects the implied accusation that its forces in the area of Deleij camp knew about the alleged killings but failed to perform their task of protecting civilians.

UNAMID investigated the allegations, meeting with IDPs and the Umdahs of Deleij camp who assured UNAMID that no killings took place as reported by the ST and that the voters’ registration process in the area was concluded with no problems.

UNAMID deplores that such serious accusations against its peacekeepers were published without even taking the pain to verify them, either independently or with UNAMID.

False reports of this nature can only ignite violence in the region and jeopardize lives, at a time when UNAMID relentlessly strives to protect civilians and end violence in Darfur.

 

SOURCE 

United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)