DARFUR / U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY

US Special Envoy Jonathan Scott Gration visits SLA Abdul Wahid-controlled Deribat area in Jabel Marra where he met top SLA field Commanders led by Abdul Khadir. The welcome party including women and children chanted "Hail Obama" as they greeted the US delegation and displayed placards and banners calling for an end to rape, genocide, impunity and displacement of populations. UNAMID

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:21
• Production Date: 6 April 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS-AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR - UNAMID
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U090406e

Description

STORY: DARFUR / U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY
TRT: 1:21
SOURCE: UNAMID
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 5 APRIL 2009, JABEL MARRA, DARFUR

1. Various shots, U.S. Special Envoy Jonathan Scott Gration walking with SLA commanders while been greeted by civilians shouting ‘Obama, Obama’
2. Med shot, civilians with banner reading ‘time to stop displacement’
3. Tilt up, from women and children to banner reading ‘time to stop rape’
4. Med shot, women holding banner reading ‘time to stop genocide’
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Johnahan Scott Gration, United States Special Envoy to Darfur:
“This problem can’t be solved by America. This problem has to be solved by the Sudanese. And we would like to facilitate that, we’d like to create the environment for that, but the problem really has to be solved by these people themselves, everybody working together. It’s a huge problem, it’s a complex problem. It’s a problem with many pieces that have to be brought together. This will take the cooperation of everybody to do that.”
6. Various shots, commander and armed rebels on top of a truck and many civilians around it
7. Wide shot, commander arriving
8. Wide shot, commanders greeting US special envoy
9. Med shot, commanders and Special Envoy talking
10. Close up, US envoy
11. Med shot, commanders
12. Med shot, armed rebel

Storyline

U.S. Special Envoy Jonathan Scott Gration visited SLA Abdul Wahid-controlled Deribat
area in Jabel Marra on Sunday (5 April) where he met top SLA field Commanders
led by Abdul Khadir.

The welcoming party included women and children chanted "Hail Obama" as they greeted
the U.S. delegation and displayed placards and banners calling for an end to rape,
genocide, impunity and displacement of populations.

During the gathering, the SLA commanders congratulated Americans for electing
President Obama, describing him as a champion of change and a fighter for justice,
equality and human rights.

The rebels said the people of Jebel Merra, Dafur and Sudan in general looked to the Obama administration to help find lasting peace in Sudan.

They pledged readiness to work with all groups and countries that are ready to help find a solution to the conflict.

On his part, the U.S. envoy said he was on a mission to listen and to see firsthand the situation on the ground. He said the "people of Darfur have suffered for far too long".

This is the first time an Obama special envoy has visited Darfur. He had earlier visited Zam Zam IDP camp and paid a visit to UNAMID headquarters where he was briefed by the leadership on the political and the humanitarian situation.

He departed on Sunday reportedly for Juba in Southern Sudan.