UNAMID to dispatch assessment mission to Darfur’s Jebel Moon

May 18, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The hybrid peacekeeping mission has resumed its security patrols in North Darfur after the end of clashes and plans to send its teams and to escort humanitarian assessment mission to Jebel Moon in West Darfur.

The restive region witnessed last week bloody fighting between the government forces and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement, in Shangil Tobaya in North Darfur, in Tartar village on Nyala – Al-Dha’ein road in south Darfur and in West Darfur area of Jebel Moon seen as bastion of JEM rebels.

Khartoum announced the capture of Jebel Moon killing 108 rebels and said crashed JEM fighters in South Darfur. The rebels dismissed Khartoum statements saying they had evacuated their bastion voluntarily and won Tartar battle.

However, the UNAMID said on Monday that JEM rebels have pulled out of Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur and setting up a series of assessment missions to the area where Internally Displaced Persons had been affected by the recent clashes and fled to other settlements.

In addition, Noureddine Mezni, UNAMID official spokesperson, told Sudan Tribune the hybrid mission is dispatching soon a verification team to Jebel Moon to assess the security situation there.

“The team will be sent from Kulbus, where UNAMID is present while we have no presence in Jebel Moon” he said. Kulbus is around 50 to 60 km from Jebel Moon area.

UNAMID, furthermore, is also planning to escort this week a humanitarian assessment team to Jebel Moon to assess the needs of the civilians.

He also said UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari is “closely following the situation and the Mission is in daily and direct contact with both Government of Sudan and Justice and Equality Movement”.

Gambari has travelled tonight to New York where he will brief on Thursday, 20 May, UNSC on the latest developments in Darfur in the context of the 60 days UNSG report which has been already circulated.

(ST)