UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 22 July 2008 --Another attack against UN-AU peacekeepers in Sudan wounded a security officer today. The security officer was in El Fasher, in the northern part of Darfur , mounting an inquiry into an automobile accident involving a member of the UN team. UNAMID personnel were unable to stop soldiers who assaulted the UNAMID officer while he was photographing the accident.

UNAMID has spoken out strongly against those responsible and made clear that,  “Although this could be said to be an isolated incident, UNAMID condemns in the strongest terms such attacks on its staff members, who are here to help bring peace to the people of Darfur.” The security officer hurt in the attack is being currently cared for at a UNAMID hospital in El Fasher.

Eight UNAMID soldiers have been killed during July, the most recent last week. Over the weekend, there was no renewed fighting and a demonstration of 2000 people in Nyala was nonviolent. Patrols have been ongoing and humanitarian initiatives have not been interrupted. The recent attacks have, however, impeded the ability to the UN and its partners to reach some parts of the country where the population is in desperate need of aid.

UNAMID operations are continuing with the initiation of helicopter patrols over internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the region. The use of helicopters is hoped to help the UN to get to camps that are now difficult and dangerous to reach by road. The mission also anticipates that a group of 250 Egyptian engineers will reach El Fasher tomorrow.

Cooperation between UNAMID and the Sudanese authorities is continuing, with Joint AU-UN Special Representative Rodolphe Adada speaking with the Governor of North Darfur, Mohammed Osman Yousif Kibir today. Sudan has pledged its backing for the UNAMID. It has also promised to help protect UNAMID forces. The UN has sought the assistance of Sudanese leaders in getting aid to people in parts of Darfur that are hard for humanitarian groups to reach.

UNAMID has called upon the region’s rebels to cease violence against its personnel and show they are willing to truly negotiation. The rebels have fractured into almost 30 component groups and the UN says, “The movements have had it too easy for too long. It is time for them to demonstrate that they are serious about peace. They must lay down their weapons and sit around the negotiating table with the government.”

However, some believe that UNAMID needs to be expanded. Gen. Agwai said in an op-ed in Johannesburg ’s Mail & Guardian that conditions in Darfur have become worse and UNAMID should be enlarged to bring in more participants from outside Africa . Gen. Agwai argued that, “Given the understandable constraints among African contributing nations, we should now be able to turn to those non-African countries willing and able to assist our mission at short notice. Darfurians deserve nothing less.”

In addition, he has called for more soldiers and equipment for UNAMID in order to attain the planned 26,000 members. Gen. Agwai indicated that, “Allowing more peacekeepers in from more countries, removing real or perceived bureaucratic obstacles to our mission and the humanitarian effort, engaging with the movement, reining in its reprehensible militia – these all send a powerful message that the Government is doing its utmost to bring about peace in Darfur .”

- Caroline Patton

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews

 

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