DARFUR: UNAMID chief visits Jabal Marra, asked to act against aerial attacks

March 18, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A delegation of the UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNMID) on Friday managed to visit two areas in the sparsely-accessed, mountainous terrain of Jabal Marra in the troubled western region of Sudan, the mission has announced.

Darfur region has been under an armed conflict that killed more than 300, 000 people and displaced 2.7 million since it erupted in 2003 between the Sudanese government and rebel groups accusing it of marginalizing the region.

UNAMID, which was established by the UN Security Council in 2007 to conduct peacekeeping in the region, has had a history of failing to access the area of Jabal Marra or investigate attacks there due to continued fighting in the area and restrictions by the Sudanese government.

The Joint Special Representative, Ibrahim Gambari, led a delegation comprising the mission’s Force Commander Lt Gen Patrick Nyamvumba and Head of the regional UNICEF office Ismail Olushola among other top mission officials on a field visit to two areas in eastern Jabal Marra.

Those are Jawa, which is located 9km west of Deribat in South Darfur, and Fanga Suk, which lies 60 km southwest of Tawilla in West Darfur. The areas are the respective strongholds of Sudan’s army and a clutch of armed groups including the Sudan Liberation Movement’s factions of Abdul Wahid Nur and Minni Arkoi Minnawi as well as the Justice and Liberation Movement, as reported by the mission.

Jabal Marra has long been the epicenter of fierce battles between the government and rebel groups, especially between February and March 2010. Fighting forced many international aid groups to vacate the area, leaving as many as 100, 000 civilians affected by the conflict.

In February 2011, Sudanese authorities expelled the French NGO Médecins du Monde (MDM) from Jabal Marra where it was the only aid group allowed to operate in the rebel-controlled territory.

Gambari was able to meet with community leaders at both Jawa and Fanga Suk, saying that many of them many shared grievances and pleaded for the urgent provision of water, food, health, education and other basic services.

UNAMID reported that residents in Fanga Suk implored the JSR to redouble appeals on their behalf for the cessation of aerial strikes.

The head of the hybrid mission urged both parties to provide full support to UNAMID patrols and activities in the East Jebel Marra area, saying this would enhance the Mission’s protection to civilians, facilitating and securing humanitarian access.

UNAMID, the world’s largest UN-funded peacekeeping mission, has repeatedly come under attack for failure to discharge its robust mandate. The mission’s operation has been greatly obstructed by the restrictions imposed on its movement by the Khartoum government.

(ST)