Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief

 

 

 

Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief

 

 

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, August 23, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2010-08-23

Update on the security situation
UNAMID continues to conduct day and night confidence building patrols within the Kalma internally displaced person (IDP) camp.

Access continues to be granted to humanitarian NGOs for entry into Kalma by the Humanitarian Aid Commission. No new population movements within and out of the camp have been reported. Submersible pumps in the most populated parts of Kalma continue to function.
 
After nearly five days, fighting between the Meseriya and Rezeghat tribes reportedly continues in the Kass region, located approximately 90 kilometers northwest of Nyala, South Darfur. Mediation efforts were attempted by the Deputy Wali (Governor) of South Darfur over the weekend. A UNAMID verification mission is underway to provide an assessment on the situation, including the number of casualties.

UNAMID Chief concludes visit to West Darfur
UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, today concluded a two-day visit to El Geneina and Zalingei, West Darfur where he met with Mission personnel, UN Agencies and the humanitarian community. He was briefed on the security and humanitarian situation in the respective area.  

The visit included meetings with local government officials and security committee members, during which he reiterated his call to the government to apprehend those committing criminal acts against UNAMID peacekeepers.  Government officials reassured the Mission and international aid workers of their commitment to safety and security. The JSR further stressed the need for UNAMID to adopt more robust patrols in and around the IDP camps.

Professor Gambari also visited Mournei (IDP) camp located about 48 kilometers south of El Geneina.

UNAMID’s new Police Commissioner takes up duties
Mr. James Oppong Boanuh of Ghana arrived at the Mission’s headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, this week to take up his duties as UNAMID’s Police Commissioner.  He succeeds Mr. Micheal Fryer of South Africa who left in April after serving since the Mission’s inception in January 2008.

Ghana is currently the largest police contributing country to UNAMID with a total of 500 police officers

Senegal adds to Formed Police Units
UNAMID today received its second Senegalese Formed Police Unit (FPUs). The units, consisting of 140 personnel, will be deployed in El Geneina, West Darfur. The new arrivals, brings the total number of FPU officers in the Mission to 1,959.

UNAMID patrols
UNAMID military forces conducted 79 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 61 villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID police advisors conducted 113 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

SOURCE 

United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)