UNAMID chief visits South Darfur town after clashes ended

February 8, 2009 (NYALA) – The UN-African Union Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, visited a South Darfur town today to assess the situation and receive a briefing from the mission’s local commanders. The visit follows a crisis in which Sudan had demanded that 196 peacekeepers evacuate the town ahead of a government ground assault.

The situation was defused by a rebel pull-out last week after weeks of deadly air attacks. Several dozen civilians died in the attacks. Also 30,000 people in Muhajriya and Shearia localities fled the hostilities, according to the top UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.

But aid agencies were able to reach the town Friday after the siege had ended and UNAMID stated today that the situation is reported to be calm.

However a UNAMID spokesperson stated that “A large number of local civilians are still gathered outside the UNAMID base near the town, while a few have began returning to their homes.” Moreover, staff from the aid organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pointed out that there have been outbreaks of meningitis and diarrhoea.

Accompanied by other senior officials with the mission, Adada paid a visit to the sites affected by the air bombardment, including the MSF guesthouse.

They also visited the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland clinic, which MSF doctors abandoned during the air raids and now operates with only local staff.

Another assessment team from UNAMID Sector South also traveled to Muhajeriya on Saturday, while earlier last week during air raids a UNAMID team was blocked from reaching the town by forces from Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services.

(ST)