UNAMID commander visits North Darfur town near Chad border
June 5, 2009 (EL-FASHER) — The Force Commander of the hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur paid a visit to the town of Um Baru where fierce clashes erupted last recently between Sudanese army and Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement.
General Martin Luther Agwai met with the UNAMID military and police personnel deployed in the area which is in the far west of North Darfur state, about 100 kilometres from the border with Chad.
In order to have complete assessment of the situation there, Agwai also held discussions with civilians who moved to the vicinity of the UNAMID camp site near Um Baru as a result of the clashes.
UNAMID was established by the Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003.
The UN Secretary General, at the time, voiced concern at the fighting in Um baru,” which puts civilian lives directly at risk and which seriously undermines efforts to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict in Darfur.” Ban Ki-Moon called to suspend military action and work towards a negotiated solution to the conflict.
UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada condemned the fighting, and urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.
(ST)