UNAMID deploy peacekeepers at Kalma amid fears of new attack

September 2, 2008 (EL-FASHER) – The hybrid mission today decided to deploy permanently peacekeepers near Kalma camp following the important presence of Sudanese troops around the camp where dozens of displaced were killed last week.

The UNAMID said today that it decided to deploy, on a permanent basis, a joint force of the UNAMID Military and Police, following fears that the camp could be once again raided by the government troops.

“On 1 September 2008, UNAMID patrol from Sector South Headquarters in Nyala to Kalma IDP camp noticed an increased presence of GoS police erecting more tents at their new location, 5 km away from the camp,” the UNAMID said today.

One Sheikh, from Kalma camp reported that Sudanese forces were planning another attack on the camp in the near future. He therefore requested UNAMID to intervene and prevent the alleged attack, the UNAMID Daily Media Brief said it its edition of Tuesday.

The IDPs delegate told the joint peacekeeping mission that further tension and panic were mounting among the Internally Displaced Persons as a result of this information.

The head of the UNAMID, Rodolphe Adada, on Monday protested officially against the excessive use of force against Kalma Internally Displaced People (IDP) on August 25.

Adada emphasized that UNAMID mandate includes the protection of civilians in the troubled region of Darfur.

In a meeting he held with the Under Secretary at the foreign affairs ministry, Mutrif Siddiq, the head of joint mission stressed on the need to involve the hybrid peacekeeping operation in such situation and in order to prevent “the repeat of similar incidents.”

(ST)