Lack of helicopters prevents verification of Sudan attacks – UNAMID
September 10, 2008 (ELFASHER) — The African Union-United Nations hybrid force said it was unable to confirm last week-end clashes between Sudanese troops and rebels in different parts of northern and western Darfur due to the lack of helicopters.
During the last Saturday and Sunday 5-6 September fighting, Sudanese army attacked the positions of rebel movements in near Disa and Birmaza, respectively 69 and 90 kilometers north of Kutum. The government said combating carjackers and looking to protect roads.
The peacekeeping force in a statement issued today attributed it failure to confirm rebel reports over the weekend fighting to its current lack of air-mobility and aerial reconnaissance capability.
The statement also said that UNAMID did not yet establish a presence in that area.
“The Mission military, police and security components intend to conduct assessment missions to the allegedly affected areas as soon as security and logistical constraints will permit.” He statement said.
A lack of helicopters is one of the main problems facing the UN-AU mission in Sudan’s Darfur region. The UN has for months been seeking 6 attack and 18 transport helicopters to support the force but the countries asked for help have said they have none available.
The outgoing head of the UN peacekeeping department, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, warned on November 26, 2007 that the UNAMID carries the risk of humiliation of the Security Council and the U.N. if it lacks the necessary capabilities to fulfill its mandate and defend its self.
IDPs and rebel groups often blame the joint peacekeeping mission for its failure to protect the displaced population in the camps but today statement comes as “clear warning from the UNAMID to the international community to shoulder its responsibilities,” told Sudan Tribune a western analyst who requested anonymity.
The 26000 stronghold troops has only around 10000 peacekeepers on the ground and the hybrid mission still lacks major capacities that will seriously compromise its ability to its mission. Observers say it faces the same fate of the African mission.
(ST)