UN report shows security deteriorating sharply in Darfur

October 22, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – The UN Secretary General (UNSG) report on Darfur painted a grim picture of the security and humanitarian in the war ravaged reason.

The UNSG accused government forces of launching a wide scale military campaign against the rebels in different parts of Darfur and said that continued insecurity led to displacement of more than 230,000 people since January 2008.

“Many of them [IDP’s] have fled to overcrowded camps near large towns or in some cases sought shelter in the desert until clashes subsided” the UN said.

Furthermore figures for the attacks on humanitarian operations in 2008 have exceeded those in prior years forcing two aid organizations to suspend their work in Darfur that assisted around 500,000 people.

“So far this year, 208 humanitarian vehicles have been hijacked, 155 aid workers abducted (43 WFP-contracted drivers remain unaccounted for), and 123 premises broken into” the report showed.

The African Union-United Nations hybrid force (UNAMID) also documented 16 cases of rape and sexual assault against women including by government forces.

“In five of the reported cases, perpetrators were described as individuals in military uniform” the UNSG said in the report.

Ban Ki-Moon also blamed government for blocking UNAMID access to Kalma IDP camp where security forces clashed with residents killing at least 30 people and injured many more.

“I call on the Government to comply with its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, in particular with regard to the protection of civilians. In that regard, the 25 August incident at Kalma camp was deeply regrettable” Ban said.

The security situation has contributed to a slow pace of UNAMID deployment, the UNSG said and stressed that the force “is not designed to create a sustainable solution to the Darfur crisis”.

The UN chief also blamed government bureaucracy for hindering the movement of UNAMID and receiving shipped equipments timely.

“The effectiveness of UNAMID hinges on the Government’s cooperation to ensure its freedom of movement in compliance with the Status-of-Forces Agreement; provide customs clearance, visas, security, and convoy protection. I welcome the agreement reached in these areas on 7 October in Khartoum by the Tripartite Committee on UNAMID” he said.

“I count on the Government of the Sudan to ensure its implementation at all levels of Government, both local and national” he added.

Ban appealed to world countries to provide desperately needed helicopters to UNAMID.

Earlier this month the UNSG said that Ukraine may offer helicopters for the mission but it is not clear if it will come through given Khartoum’s resistance to non-African troops.

Washington accused the UN earlier this year of not moving fast enough on UNAMID deployment.

UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.

(ST)