UN chief voices concern over situation in Darfur
August 16, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nation’s secretary-general, Ban Ki Moon, has voiced concern over kidnappings of international peacekeepers as well as tension at Kalma camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), warning that these incidents have “contributed to a worsening of the situation” in the restive region of Darfur where two UNAMID peacekeepers were recently abducted.
“Continued attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers and abductions and mistreatment of UN staff and humanitarian workers will only aggravate the situation,” warned a statement released by Ban’s spokesperson yesterday.
However, the statement said that the UN chief “appreciates” the restoration today of humanitarian access to Kalma camp after aid groups were not allowed into the camp for two weeks after fighting between opponents and proponents of Darfur peace talks claimed eight lives and catapulted UNAMID relations with the government to a tense standoff over the sheltering of six refugees accused by the government of instigating the violence.
Aid groups yesterday confirmed that the Sudanese authorities allowed them back in Kalma camp but said that the situation there remains tense.
The secretary-general’s statement was keen to note that “constraints on aid agencies operating in Darfur have been steadily increasing since March 2009, when 11 international NGOs were expelled from the region” which occurred concurrently with the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for president Al-Bashir on charges of war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.
Ban Ki Moon called on the Sudanese Government “to apprehend and bring to justice those who attack UN staff and humanitarian workers and to take all possible measures to ensure that humanitarian access to all Sudanese remains open and humanitarian space protected.”
The UN estimates that Darfur conflict which began in 2003 between armed rebels and the central government in Khartoum has killed 300.000 people and displaced more than 2 millions.
(ST)
telfajbago
UN chief voices concern over situation in Darfur
voicing concern doesn’t work with genocide regime as today the regime engaged totally in appeasing the aid workers and the UNAMID, I believe that, UNAMID had became a disgrace to the peacekeeping missions in Africa. In a situation where the International forces are humiliated what is direly needed is peacemakers with strong mandate to protect themselves as well as the armless civilians. Its pity that UNAMID forces are taken by regime’s militias liking movable objects, nonetheless they are claiming to be peacekeepers.