UN / DARFUR

The Head of the Joint AU-UN mission in Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, told the Security Council today (24 July) that the security situation in this war-torn region “remains volatile.” Chambas said that since the beginning of the year, “fighting between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and non-signatory movements on the one hand, and on the other, inter- and intra-ethnic clashes have led not only to loss of life, but also to a situation of protracted displacement, socio-economic dislocation and loss of property for the civilian populations caught in the crossfire.” UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:23
• Production Date: 24 July 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS-AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN DARFUR - UNAMID
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U130724b

Description

STORY: UN / DARFUR
TRT: 2.23
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 24 JULY 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

24 JULY 2013, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegate
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, Head of UNAMID and Joint Chief Mediator:
“The security situation in Darfur remains volatile. Since the beginning of the year, fighting between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and non-signatory movements on the one hand, and on the other, inter- and intra-ethnic clashes have led not only to loss of life, but also to a situation of protracted displacement, socio-economic dislocation and loss of property for the civilian populations caught in the crossfire.”
5. Med shot, delegate
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, Head of UNAMID and Joint Chief Mediator:
“Intra-ethnic violence has actually brought about more death, injury and displacement than the fighting between the Government and non-signatories in 2013. UNAMID has continued to strongly encourage all parties to this intra-ethnic conflicts and relevant civil society actors, to enter into dialogue with a view to addressing the root causes of the clashes and developing a common vision for their resolution.”
7. Med shot, delegate
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, Head of UNAMID and Joint Chief Mediator:
“2013, if I may repeat, marks ten years since the outbreak of the Darfur conflict. While considerable progress was made throughout the years to bring down the initially great casualty numbers and craft the peace process, much more remains to be done. The parties to the conflict who have courageously embraced the path of peaceful settlement must be encouraged, supported and protected. The stated intention of the Government of Sudan to engage in an all inclusive political dialogue with all non signatory groups without exception is commendable and it needs to be encouraged to propose a concrete framework to deliver on this undertaking.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

The Head of the Joint AU-UN mission in Darfur told the Security Council today (24 July) that the security situation in this war-torn region “remains volatile.”

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who is the Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, Head of Mission and Joint Chief Mediator, said that since the beginning of the year, “fighting between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and non-signatory movements on the one hand, and on the other, inter- and intra-ethnic clashes have led not only to loss of life, but also to a situation of protracted displacement, socio-economic dislocation and loss of property for the civilian populations caught in the crossfire.”

Chambas noted that intra-ethnic violence “has actually brought about more death, injury and displacement than the fighting between the Government and non-signatories in 2013.”

He said the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) “has continued to strongly encourage all parties to this intra-ethnic conflicts and relevant civil society actors, to enter into dialogue with a view to addressing the root causes of the clashes and developing a common vision for their resolution.”

The Special Representative stressed that “while considerable progress was made throughout the years to bring down the initially great casualty numbers and craft the peace process, much more remains to be done.”

He said “the parties to the conflict who have courageously embraced the path of peaceful settlement must be encouraged, supported and protected.”

He also lauded “the stated intention of the Government of Sudan to engage in an all inclusive political dialogue with all non signatory groups without exception is commendable and it needs to be encouraged to propose a concrete framework to deliver on this undertaking.”

Earlier this month, a UNAMID patrol was ambushed and came under heavy fire from a large unidentified group approximately 25 kilometres west of the Mission's Khor Abeche team site.

Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 military and police personnel, among them two female police advisers, were wounded.

The new wave of violence in Sudan’s Darfur region is also threatening the ability of humanitarian organizations to assist the population and putting at risk long-term food security, the United Nations food relief agency said today.

The renewed violence after a decade-long conflict has prompted more than 250,000 people to flee their villages and abandon their livelihoods since the start of the year.

Established in July 2007, UNAMID has the protection of civilians as its core mandate. In addition, the peacekeeping operation is tasked with facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and assisting with an inclusive peace process in Darfur, where fighting broke out nine years ago, pitting Government forces and allied militiamen against rebel groups.