Head of UN peacekeeping ends West Darfur trip
July 14, 2009 (ALFASHER) – United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Alain Le Roy, today continued a trip in El Geneina, West Darfur, saying at a nearby village that life is returning to normal.
According to a UN Mission statement, he remarked, “it was apparent life in the village was returning to normal as evidenced by ongoing farming activities being undertaken by the returnees.”
The head of United Nations peacekeeping wrapped up his two-day visit to the region by meeting traditional leaders and representatives of women and youth in the village.
Until the January 2008, the village had been home for as many as 8,000 families. At that time, the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied militias attacked and burned the village and the towns of Abu Suruj, Silea, and Sirba.
These acts of destruction prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to say in April, “The military operations by the Sudanese Armed Forces and militias in the northern corridor of Western Darfur during the first three months of 2008 caused dozens of civilian fatalities and the displacement of an estimated 60,000 individuals.”
Seraf Jedad was since targeted by UNAMID’s “quick impact projects,” one of which involved rehabilitation of the school.
During his visit to West Darfur, Mr. Le Roy met with the State Wali (Governor), Abu Ghassim. On the prior day, he had met with Governor Othman Kibir of North Darfur.
(ST)