Only 22 people killed in Darfur during April 2009 – UNAMID

May 10, 2009 (EL-FASHER) — Only 22 people were killed in Darfur during the last month of April, said the UNAMID spokesperson who pledged to issue such statistic regularly every month.

Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada, Told the UN Security Council last month that some 130-150 people were dying each month due to violence in Darfur, versus the tens of thousands who were killed in 2003-2004.

Noureddine Mezni, the spokesperson of the hybrid peacekeeping mission told Sudan Tribune that some 22 people were killed in the three states of Darfur during April 2009. Nine of them are government troops; six are from the displaced in Darfur camps and other seven from the civilians who were killed during the clashes.

April figures if confirmed in the upcoming period could prove the efficiency of a mission that started with much of difficulties and still works without reaching the authorized 26000 strong as well as without having the needed 24 helicopters including 18 transport and six tactical helicopters to operate effectively across the Darfur region.

UNAMID’s 13,208 military forces – a figure current as of April 24 – are tasked with protecting 2.7 million displaced civilians in Darfur. The Mission also has 2,478 police and 3,388 civilian staff.

The deployed civilian staff comprised 942 international staff, 2,142 national staff and 299 UN volunteers, 942 international staff, 2,142 national staff, and 299 UN volunteers, said the UNAMID spokesperson.

The hybrid operation formally began operating December 31, 2007, taking over from an earlier AU force.

(ST)