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UN / DARFUR
STORY: UN / DARFUR
TRT: 3.11
SOURCE: UNTV / UNAMID
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 23 OCTOBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
23 OCTOBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Pan left, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Joint Special Representative of the African Union- United Nations Mission in Darfur:
“The security situation in Darfur and threats to the Mission and humanitarian personnel continued to be a serious concern.”
5. Pan left, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Joint Special Representative of the African Union- United Nations Mission in Darfur:
“Fighting between the southern Reizegat and Maalia in East Darfur; the Misseriya and Salamat in Central Darfur, the northern Reizegat, Aballa, and Beni Hussein in north Darfur, have led to a larger number of civilian casualties, mass displacement, and attendant humanitarian tragedy than the clashes between forces of the government and those of the non-signatory movements. As part of our efforts to mitigate the situation, UNAMID worked closely with regional, state and local authorities including through provision of logistics and technical support towards renewed attempts to at bringing about reconciliation between the conflicting tribal groups.”
7. Pan right, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:
“The intensification of conflict has increased the need for protection and humanitarian assistance among the civilian population. Furthermore, support for the peace process and efforts to strengthen the rule of law and human rights in Darfur remain much needed. With a view towards ensuring the Mission has the resources, configuration and procedures needed to address these issues more effectively, we have commenced in closed consultations with the African Union, the forward looking and detailed review of UNAMID as requested by this Council resolution 2113.”
9. Pan right, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations:
“We expect UNAMID to fully shoulder its role, in particular because of UNAMID is made out of peacekeepers and military men and the servicemen must carry out their duty of dealing with these assailants; first and foremost to protect themselves and furthermore to carry out the mission that was conferred to them, mainly the maintenance of peace in Darfur.”
11. Zoom out, Security Council
FILE – UNAMID - 15 OCTOBER 2013, ELGENEINA, DARFUR, SUDAN
12. Various shots, peacekeepers vehicle riddled with bullets and blood stains
20 OCTOBER 2013, EL FASHER, DARFUR
13. Various shots, coffins of dead peacekeepers being carried to UN plane
The situation in Sudan’s Darfur region is marked by limited progress in the peace process, a troubling security situation and the continued need for substantial humanitarian assistance, officials representing the United Nations and the African Union told the Security Council today (23 October).
The Joint Special Representative, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who is also head of the joint African Union-UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) told the Council that “the security situation in Darfur and threats to UNAMID and humanitarian personnel continue to be a serious concern.”
Further complicating the situation are the inter-tribal conflicts that continue to plague the region.
Chambas said “Fighting between the southern Reizegat and Maalia in East Darfur; the Misseriya and Salamat in Central Darfur, the northern Reizegat, Aballa, and Beni Hussein in north Darfur, have led to a larger number of civilian casualties, mass displacement, and attendant humanitarian tragedy than the clashes between forces of the government and those of the non-signatory movements.”
He said that as part of UNAMID’s efforts to mitigate the situation, it is working “closely with regional, state and local authorities including through provision of logistics and technical support towards renewed attempts to at bringing about reconciliation between the conflicting tribal groups.”
Chambas, who briefed the 15-member body via videoconference from Khartoum, said that while UNAMID continued to facilitate the delivery of relief assistance by humanitarian actors to affected communities, instances of denial of access and restriction of movement, as well as bureaucratic impediments remain a challenge that negatively impacts this effort.
Regarding the peace process, Chambas reported that he remains engaged with the movements that have yet to sign the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) – which forms the basis for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive peace agreement to end the fighting – in an attempt to find common ground for advancing the peace process.
Also briefing the Council was Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous, who noted that in addition to presenting safety and security challenges for UNAMID and aid personnel, “the intensification of conflict has increased the need for protection and humanitarian assistance among the civilian population.”
Furthermore, he said, “support for the peace process and efforts to strengthen the rule of law and human rights in Darfur remain much needed.”
He added that the Mission, in consultations with the African Union, is reviewing its “resources, configuration and procedures needed to address these issues more effectively.”
For his part, Sudanese Ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said his government expected UNAMID “to fully shoulder its role, in particular because of UNAMID is made out of peacekeepers and military men and the servicemen must carry out their duty of dealing with these assailants; first and foremost to protect themselves and furthermore to carry out the mission that was conferred to them, mainly the maintenance of peace in Darfur.”
Civilian protection is a core mandate for UNAMID, which was established by the Security Council five years ago to help stem the suffering in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have died since 2003 due to fighting between rebel groups and Government forces and their allies, militiamen known as the Janjaweed.
Three Senegalese peacekeepers were killed earlier this month in an attack in Sudan's western Darfur region.
The attack took place on 13 October when an African Union-United Nations convoy escorting water trucks from El Geneina to the Mission's regional headquarters in West Darfur was ambushed by an unidentified armed group.
Three peacekeepers were killed and one injured. The assailants hijacked one vehicle, which was later recovered seven kilometres from the scene.
UNAMID described the attack as a grave criminal act and commended the Sudanese uniformed services for pursuing the assailants and engaging them in a fire-fight, which reportedly led to casualties on both sides.
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