US calls to maintain Darfur peacekeeping mission

June 21, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power Friday called to maintain the mandate unchanged and to not cut the number of the peacekeepers deployed in Darfur, saying violence continues to displace thousands of civilian in the region.

Power was speaking following informal meeting of the UN Security Council called at the initiative of the US on human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur. The meeting aimed to mark the 10th anniversary of a report by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on crimes and atrocities committed in Darfur. The report was submitted on 31 January 2005.

“The takeaways from today’s meeting are clear: now is not the time to give up on Darfur; now is not the time to withdraw U.N. peacekeepers; and now is not the time to abandon the people of Darfur,” Power said.

The American diplomat further urged ” member states with influence over Khartoum” to convince Khartoum to allow aid workers to reach the needy and authorize the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) greater access to carry out its mandate to protect civilians.

Regarding the exit strategy she said the 15-member body “should make clear that it would not consider any premature drawdown or closure of UNAMID”, according to Reuters.

Next week, the Security Council is expected to renew the UNAMID mandate for another year as Khartoum demands to take into account an exit plan under negotiations between Sudan, African Union and United Nations.

Earlier this week, Khartoum expressed concern over a draft resolution extending the mandate of the joint operation for another 12 months prepared by the United Kingdom. The foreign ministry said the draft is inconsistent with the positive developments on the grounds and ignored the discussions on the exit strategy.

The American ambassador called to enforce U.N. sanctions and arms embargo on Darfur.

She further said it’s time to move beyond “the failed peace processes and broken agreements” toward a “comprehensive political solution starting with a negotiation of a real cessation of hostilities.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report released on 3 June 2015 said the fighting intensified between the government and rebel groups “in recent years” and continues to impact civilians. Also it said that the tribal clashes displaced civilians while the access to the “active conflict” areas remains largely denied.

OCHA pointed that some 4.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Darfur and over 2.55 million people remain displaced.

Aid groups have reached 51,000 newly displaced people with some form of assistance since the beginning of 2015.

However, “humanitarian organizations have so far been unable to confirm reports of close to 100,000 others having been displaced in and around the Jebel Marra area, where the heaviest fighting is understood to be taking place, due to continuing denial of access”.

(ST)