European envoys to Sudan plan to visit South Darfur state
October 19, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – European ambassadors in Sudan have requested that Sudanese authorities allow them to visit South Darfur state in November, the European Union (EU) delegation said in a statement released on Sunday
The European diplomats during their visit will meet with the state government and local officials, the UN, international agencies and the civil society groups working on the ground.
South Darfur state is known for criminal activity and banditry attacks carried out by armed gangs on businessmen, humanitarian workers and even peacekeepers of the hybrid African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
In its latest report to the UN Security Council (UNSC), UNAMID said that the deployment of the Rapid Support Forces militia in the region “has seriously undermined the security of civilians, their property and livelihoods, particularly in South Darfur and increasingly in North Darfur”.
The report says the UNAMID movements in the region are still limited by Sudanese authorities. “Between 1 January and 1 April UNAMID land movements were restricted on 72 occasions, compared with 35 restrictions in the previous reporting period. Restrictions were highest in South Darfur”.
The European envoys also plan to visit humanitarian and development projects in South Darfur directed towards restoring peace, protection of civilians and support to Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
“The situation in Darfur remains of great concern to the EU. An improved access for international donors is in the interest of the affected population suffering from fighting, criminal attacks and tribal clashes,” said the EU ambassador to Sudan, Tomas Ulicny.
Ulicny also condemned the killing of three Ethiopian peacekeepers near Korma, North Darfur last Thursday.
“The European Union calls for swift action to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
BRITISH CONCERNS
In a separate statement announcing the publication of UK quarterly human rights update on Sudan on Sunday, the British ambassador to Sudan, Peter Tibber said concerned by the deterioration of security and human rights in Darfur.
“We remain deeply concerned by the Human Rights situation in Sudan. The past three months have seen the highest rate of casualties this year in Darfur, including through sustained inter-tribal violence,” he said.
He further reiterated his country’s support for the UN Independent Expert’s call on the government to “quickly institute an independent judicial public enquiry into the killings and other human rights violations that occurred during the September 2013 demonstrations in Khartoum”.
(ST)