FIRST PHASE OF EX-COMBATANTS’ DEMOBILIZATION WRAPS UP IN SUDAN – UN

Thousands of former fighters have taken part in the first phase of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme, marking a key milestone for the 2005 agreement that ended Sudan's north-south civil war, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country reported today.

The last of over 5,600 ex-combatants earmarked for demobilization were processed yesterday in the first phase of the DDR scheme in Blue Nile state, in Sudan's east, according to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which celebrated the achievement in a brief ceremony.

The joint North and South Sudan DDR commissions, along with UNMIS, the UN Development Programme UNDP, World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), are assisting with the process in Blue Nile.

The DDR initiative seeks to ensure that demobilized combatants are properly reintegrated into civilian life, receiving packages including livestock and vocational training. Monitoring is also a crucial component to prevent former fighters from sliding back into violence.

The DDR commissions have agreed to jointly process caseloads in Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and Abyei, before expanding to other areas under the 2005 pact, known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Other key benchmarks of the treaty include border demarcation and preparations for national elections in 2010 and a referendum on the final status of areas of southern Sudan in 2011.

One-third of ex-combatants demobilized in Blue Nile have already started receiving counseling as a first step to reintegrate into civilian life.

Up to 180,000 former fighters from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), Popular Defence Forces and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) will be demobilized, and the first stages will target mostly those with special needs, including the old and infirm, as well as women and children associated with armed forces or groups.

The multi-year scheme is being led jointly by the DDR commissions, with financial and technical support from the UN.

But UNMIS pointed out that funding continues to be a major challenge. Some $430 million is required over three years, but only $88 million was pledged at the last donor conference held in Juba earlier this year.

In a related development, the UN today welcomed the donation of 22 vehicles by the European Commission, which will be used by the DDR commissions to help monitor participants transition into civilian life.

"The progress made in the past year on DDR has become one of the success stories of CPA implementation," UNDP Country Director Jorgen Lissner said at a ceremony in the capital, Khartoum.

The cars will be used to allow case workers to cover areas of reintegration and provide logistical support for the daily operations of the commissions.
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NEXT YEAR’S LANDMARK ELECTIONS POSE MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR SUDAN – UN OFFICIAL

Local election authorities in the Sudan face a complex challenge in holding the conflict-ridden country's first multi-party polls in decades, the top United Nations official tasked with assisting in the voting process warned today.

The April 2010 elections are a major milestone in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the pact which ended 20 years of fighting between the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) separatists in the south and the national Government in the north, said Ray Kennedy, Chief Electoral Affairs Office with the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

"UNMIS is here to support the process," Mr. Kennedy told reporters in Khartoum, stressing that the "responsibility for planning, organizing, and conducting these elections rests with the Sudanese authority established for that purpose, namely the National Elections Commission [NEC]."

Highlighting the difficulties in organizing the elections, Mr. Kennedy said that the "size and physical landscape of the country, together with weak infrastructure in large parts of the county, would present a challenge for any election management body."

He added that polling for six offices at the same time – President of the Republic, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, state governors, the National Assembly, the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly, and State Assemblies – along with different elections taking place in different parts of the country is a complex task.

"And the time pressures that the NEC is under with the election law being passed two and a half years late and the establishment of the NEC itself taking far longer than envisioned in the CPA and in the National Elections Act" only adds to the complexities, said Mr. Kennedy.

"Together, all of these factors make these elections some of the most complex and challenging on record," he stressed.

UNMIS has over 100 staff on the ground, with teams in Khartoum, El Fasher (capital of North Darfur), and each of the 10 states of Southern Sudan, noted Mr. Kennedy. He added that by late September, election support teams will also be established in each state in the north in response to the NEC's request for support in all of Sudan's 25 states.

The assistance UNMIS provides the NEC includes advice on procedures for voter registration, nominations, polling, counting, and the tabulation and announcement of results, as well as developing training on voter education, said Mr. Kennedy.

"Based on a request from NEC to assist them with logistics, the mission has asked for additional helicopters to help move registration materials, voter education materials, ballots, and ballot boxes around the country and we are awaiting approval of that request," he said. "According to our calculations, we could be asked to assist with the transportation of 7.5 million kilogrammes of election material."

A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan – where at least 2 million people were killed, 4 million others uprooted and 600,000 more fled across the borders during the 20 years of one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars – is slated for 2011, to follow next year's national elections.
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NEW MANDATE CREATED FOR INDEPENDENT UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERT ON SUDAN

The United Nations Human Rights Council today established a one-year mandate for an independent expert tasked with examining the situation in Sudan, as it concluded its 11th session.

In one of several resolutions adopted prior to wrapping up the two-week session, the Council requested the new Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan to report to the Geneva-based body at its 14th session.

The new mandate replaces that of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Sudan, which expires this month.

Also by the same text, the Council called on Sudan's Government of National Unity to continue and intensify its efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights across the country.

Among the other issues the 47-member body took action on were the human rights of migrants in detention centres, the acceleration of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, trafficking in persons, the right to education and the Draft Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights.

During its session, the Council also received an update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on human rights themes and situations of particular concern, especially the condition of civilians in armed conflict, and the human rights of migrants.

In addition, the Council held its annual full-day meeting on women's human rights, on the theme of equality before the law.

The next regular session of the Council – which replaced the Human Rights Commission in 2006 – will be held from 7 to 25 September.
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EFFORTS TO DISARM SUDANESE EX-COMBATANTS MAKING HEADWAY, REPORTS UN OFFICIAL

The United Nations reports that progress is being made in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of soldiers in north and south Sudan, a key component of the 2005 agreement that ended the country's 21-year civil war.

"The Sudanese DDR programme is unique and potentially the largest and most complex ever undertaken," Adriaan Verheul, Chief of the DDR Unit at the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), told a news conference in Khartoum today.

"Some 180,000 members of the armed forces and women who have helped the armed forces will be given the possibility to make a living as a civilian. Any child soldiers will be reunited with their families," he added.

Mr. Verheul said that more than 5,000 soldiers have now gone through the demobilization process, which was launched in February.

The DDR process is a key component of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

Other key benchmarks of the pact include border demarcation and preparations for national elections in 2010 and a referendum on the final status of areas of Southern Sudan in 2011.

The goal of the reintegration of the soldiers is two-fold, noted Mr. Verheul. One is to provide people who have fought for their country with an exit from military life with a degree of dignity, while the other is to contribute to stability, which in itself will help generate greater trust and provides the foundation for peace and development.

"We hope that DDR would contribute to a better and more positive climate for the elections and the referendum," he stated. "But let us start with an overall contribution to the situation on the ground."

UNMIS is tasked with assisting the parties and the people of Sudan in fulfilling their commitments under the CPA.
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TOP UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY MEETS DARFUR REBEL LEADER

TOP UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY MEETS DARFUR REBEL LEADER
New York, Jun 11 2009 6:00PM
The head of the joint United Nations–African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has reiterated that there is no military solution to the problems facing the strife-torn Sudanese region, as he met with the leader of a major rebel group.

Yesterday's meeting in North Darfur between Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada and the Chairman of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Khalil Ibrahim, was the second of its kind this year and part of a "continued effort to establish a good working relationship with all parties involved in the Darfur conflict," the mission said in a news release.

Mr. Adada once again urged that all efforts should focus on boosting the ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar, noting that "the problems that Sudan is facing now have no military solution."

He added that <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID has been monitoring "with great concern" the recent fighting between JEM on the one hand and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan Liberation Army –Minni Minawi faction (SLA/Minni) on the other. UNAMID helped provide medical care for the wounded combatants from both sides.

Mr. Adada renewed his appeal to JEM and all negotiating parties in Doha to commit to a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible, the mission said.

UNAMID added that Mr. Ibrahim expressed JEM's readiness for a cessation of hostilities in the context of a framework agreement and pledged to contribute to the improvement of the humanitarian situation and protection of civilians until a comprehensive peace agreement is reached.

Mr. Adada and Mr. Ibrahim agreed on a mechanism to improve communication and contacts between UNAMID and JEM, the mission said.

The Security Council established UNAMID in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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SUDAN: UN ENVOY WARNS OF CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE ACCORD

SUDAN: UN ENVOY WARNS OF CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF PEACE ACCORD
New York, Jun 4 2009 4:00PM
The top United Nations envoy to Sudan has warned that although much progress has been made in healing the strife-torn country's divides, difficulties remain, ahead of a meeting in the United States on the issue.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi, said that many challenges face the signatories to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended a 21-year civil war between north and south Sudan.

Mr. Qazi, who also heads the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.unmis.org/english/en-main.htm">UNMIS), was speaking after a meeting on Wednesday with the President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the First Vice-President of Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.

"I had a very good meeting with the President and this is an important time because we all are preparing for the conference that will take place in Washington later this month," said Mr. Qazi during his one-day visit to Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan.

"The United States has taken the initiative to act in concert with the international community to help both signatories implement the CPA on schedule because the CPA time period will be completed in 2011," he added.

In the meeting, Mr. Qazi discussed the security situation in the south, elections, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme for ex-combatants, and the preparations for the 2011 referendum on whether the South should secede or remain united with the rest of the country.

The President expressed appreciation for the role of UNMIS, which recently dispatched some 120 civilian, military and police personnel to Jonglei State, where thousands were taking refuge after inter-tribal violence left hundreds dead, including many women and children.
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DARFUR REFUGEES IN CHAD TO RECEIVE IDENTITY CARDS UNDER UN-BACKED SCHEME

DARFUR REFUGEES IN CHAD TO RECEIVE IDENTITY CARDS UNDER UN-BACKED SCHEME
New York, Jun 2 2009 2:00PM
Some 110,000 Sudanese refugees over the age of 18 in eastern Chad will receive identity cards under a new programme launched with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"The ID cards are the equivalent of a 'refugee passport' allowing free movement within the host country and providing access to some basic services in line with the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention," agency spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

The agency distributed the first 10 ID cards, which are printed by <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4a25473a4.html">UNHCR and issued by the Chadian Government, in a symbolic ceremony on Monday in Gaga refugee camp, near Abéché.

UNHCR noted that the joint initiative had been in the works since late 2006. Identity and age verification exercises in all 12 camps in eastern Chad hosting some 250,000 refugees from Sudan's war-torn Darfur region were initially scheduled to start in 2008.

However, ongoing insecurity in eastern Chad pushed back those exercises until this April. Some 37,000 refugees in Gaga and Farchana camps have been processed so far.

"We plan to distribute all 110,000 ID cards by the end of this year, provided that the verification process is not interrupted again," Mr. Redmond said. "Since the latest Chadian rebel incursion on 4 May, our regular daily access to refugee camps is still problematic due to security restrictions."

Meanwhile, UNCHR said that refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to arrive in small groups in the village of Daha, in south-eastern Chad's Salamat region, as well as in the vicinity of Danamadji in southern Chad.

Some 17,000 CAR refugees – who fled fearing fresh clashes between the Government and rebels – found shelter in six spontaneous sites which sprung up in Daha and Massambagne villages since mid-January, Mr. Redmond reported.

"In southern Chad, we now care for 73,000 refugees hosted in five refugee camps and six spontaneous sites," he said, adding that UNHCR teams in this part of Chad are providing protection and emergency assistance. It is also distributing shelter material and household items to all newly arrived families – mostly women and small children.

"Together with our partner agencies we secured refugee access to education and clean water and built latrines, and we are pre-positioning food-rations sufficient for six months. As of mid-June when the rainy season will start, the CAR refugees in south-eastern Chad will be basically cut off from assistance as it will be physically impossible to reach them," said Mr. Redmond.
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AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY CALLS FOR END TO CLASHES ALONG CHAD-SUDAN BORDER

AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY CALLS FOR END TO CLASHES ALONG CHAD-SUDAN BORDER
New York, May 20 2009 12:00PM
The joint African Union-United Nations envoy to the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur today called for an end to fighting near the Chad-Sudan border and for the two nations to rein in mounting tensions.

In a press release issued in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, AU-UN Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada urged the Governments of the neighbouring nations to "refrain from any act that may lead to a further escalation of tensions, which could exacerbate the suffering of Darfur's civilians, particularly the many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the region."

He urged Chad and Sudan to adhere to pacts they have signed, especially the 3 May Doha Agreement, facilitated by Qatar and Libya.

Reiterating what he told the Security Council last month, Mr. Adada stressed that "the poor state of relations between Chad and Sudan constitutes one of the biggest threats to efforts to secure lasting peace for the people of Darfur."

He also echoed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3863">statement from earlier this week that there is no military solution to the conflict in Darfur and the problems between Chad, Sudan and opposition groups in both countries.

"Dialogue is the only way forward," the Representative emphasized.
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AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR

AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY AND SUDANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSS RECENT FIGHTING IN DARFUR
New York, May 19 2009 5:00PM
The joint African Union-United Nations envoy to Darfur met with a senior Sudanese official today to discuss recent fighting in the strife-torn region and rising tensions between Sudan and Chad, a spokesperson for the world body said.

Marie Okabe told reporters in New York that the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, met with Minni Minawi, a former rebel who is now the Senior Assistant to the Sudanese President.

"They discussed the latest developments in Darfur, particularly the recent fighting between the Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA/MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). They also discussed rising tensions between Chad and Sudan," Ms. Okabe said.

Fighting between the two groups flared up some ten days ago in the north Darfur town of Umm Baru. Mr. Adada said the AU-UN peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID, had taken 26 people injured in the fighting to the North Darfur capital of El Fasher for treatment at a military hospital.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday voiced his concern at recent violence and tensions in the border area between Chad and Sudan and called on all parties to cease fighting.

"He underscores that there is no military solution to the situation in the sub-region and urges the Governments of Chad and Sudan to refrain from any act that may lead to a further escalation of tensions," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Last week Mr. Adada met with the Under-Secretary of the Sudanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mutrif Siddiq, and Presidential Adviser, Mustafa Osman Ismail, during separate meetings in Khartoum.

In a briefing to the Security Council in April, Mr. Adada estimated that around 2,000 civilians have been in killed in Darfur since UNAMID deployed last year.

Some 15 peacekeepers have also lost their lives since the Security Council established UNAMID to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

Ms. Okabe said that in the past 24 hours, the military component of UNAMID conducted 72 confidence-building patrols, escorts, night patrols and investigative patrols in and around villages and camps for internally displaced persons.
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TOP UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR GREATER COLLABORATION TO DELIVER AID TO DARFUR

TOP UN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR GREATER COLLABORATION TO DELIVER AID TO DARFUR
New York, May 11 2009 6:00PM
The United Nations emergency relief chief has urged increased cooperation in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, as he wrapped up a five-day visit to the vast African country.

As part of his trip, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes assessed conditions for people in the war-ravaged Darfur region on the western flank of Sudan.

In early March, Khartoum kicked out 13 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and revoked the permits of three local groups providing emergency relief assistance in Darfur after the International Criminal Court (<"http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC?lan=en-GB">ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the region.

"The expulsions by the Government and the manner in which they were carried out created both major new risks for vulnerable populations in Darfur and elsewhere, and a crisis of confidence with the humanitarian community," said Mr. Holmes, who is also Emergency Relief Coordinator.

He welcomed, however, recent collaboration with the Government on the joint assessment in Darfur, and noted that short-term needs in food, health and nutrition, emergency shelter, water and sanitation were being met.

"As the rainy and lean season approach, we are still grappling with the gaps left in many areas," added Mr. Holmes. "The critical test will be over the coming months" in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since 2003.

Voicing concern over the world body's ability to deliver basic longer-term needs, he underscored the importance of the "loosening of bureaucratic impediments currently constraining the humanitarian community" for the UN and others to "fill the gaps."

Mr. Holmes highlighted the success of the first meeting of an expanded High Level Committee, which aims to monitor and solve humanitarian problems, and monitor the operation of existing agreements. "Agreement was reached on what we hope will be an effective monitoring mechanism at the state, national, and international levels, and a strengthened aid delivery system."

In his discussions with officials in Khartoum and North Darfur, Mr. Holmes also called attention to the increasingly dangerous conditions for aid workers in Darfur, which has seen a rise in banditry and two particularly worrying kidnappings since the expulsions of NGOs.

The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID, reported that in the last three days the security situation had been relatively tense, with a shooting reported in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

UNAMID also reported a number of carjacking incidents in both North and South Darfur, along with a surge of banditry targeting UN personnel in North Darfur, including a spate of burglaries. There were also reports of sporadic armed clashes between government forces and the Central Reserve Force in El Fasher's main market resulting in two deaths.

Fighting between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudanese Liberation Army/Minni Minawi wing (SLA/MM) sparked off over the weekend in the North Darfur town of Umm Baru. UNAMID transported 26 people injured in the fighting to El Fasher for medical treatment at the military hospital.

More than one year on from transferring the task of suppressing the violence in Darfur to UNAMID from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS), well over 12,000 of the 19,555 military personnel authorized by the Security Council are now in place across the region.
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UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY TO DARFUR CONDEMNS KILLING OF BLUE HELMET

UN-AFRICAN UNION ENVOY TO DARFUR CONDEMNS KILLING OF BLUE HELMET
New York, May 8 2009 11:00AM
Unidentified gunmen shot dead an international peacekeeper outside his home in South Darfur last night, the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) announced with "deep regret" today.

The blue helmet was killed in a carjacking incident as he was opening the gate to his residence in Nyala, the state capital. The peacekeeper was rushed to a nearby UNAMID medical centre for treatment but died upon arrival.

Joint AU-UN Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, condemned the killing in the strongest terms, emphasizing that attacks on peacekeepers constitute war crimes.

"This attack is deplorable. UNAMID peacekeepers are here to assist the people of Darfur, and any attack on them is totally unacceptable," said Mr. Adada. "I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who lost his life."

The military observer's name, rank and nationalit
y will not be released until his family are notified, but he becomes the 15th UNAMID peacekeeper killed in a hostile confrontation since the mission deployed at the start of 2008.

Mr. Adada called on the Sudanese Government and the parties to the Darfur conflict to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of last night's shooting to justice.

Meanwhile, UNAMID, which has started its own investigation into the attack, informed local officials with Sudanese Government police and national security, who are also investigating the killing.
While the overall number of carjackings and thefts of UNAMID vehicles has declined since last year, such incidents continue across the region, particularly in South Darfur. A Nigerian peacekeeper was shot and killed during an ambush of a Mission escort patrol near Nyala on 17 March.
In a briefing to the Security Council last month Mr. Adada estimated that some 2,000 civilians have also been in killed in Darfur since UNAMID deployed last year, a
nd that some of the previous 14 peacekeepers killed may have been rescued if helicopters had been available.

The hybrid UNAMID force was set up by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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BAN ENCOURAGES PEACEFUL FINAL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE OVER SUDANESE TOWN

BAN ENCOURAGES PEACEFUL FINAL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE OVER SUDANESE TOWN
New York, May 7 2009 3:00PM
As legal arguments in the case over Abyei, an oil-rich town straddling northern and southern Sudan, ended today at a United Nations-backed tribunal in The Hague, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged the parties to achieve a peaceful final settlement to their dispute.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3834">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban welcomed the conclusion of the written and verbal arguments on the final settlement of the Abyei dispute before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (<"http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=363">PCA).

The PCA began deliberations nearly three weeks ago on the demarcation of Abyei, which is being contested by the two signatories to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the long-running north-south civil war in Sudan – the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Mr. Ban commended the reiteration, in the Abyei Roadmap Agreement, of the NCP and SPLM's commitment to abide by and implement the decision of the tribunal.

"He encourages the two CPA signatories to achieve a peaceful final settlement to this dispute and to further strengthen their relationship as partners for peace in Sudan," the statement added.

Mr. Ban stressed in an October 2008 report to the Security Council that "demarcation of the border is a critical benchmark with implications for almost all other benchmarks under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement."
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BOOSTING DEPLOYMENT OF UN-AFRICAN UNION FORCE FOCUS OF DARFUR MEETING

Representatives of the Government of Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations met today in Darfur to discuss ways to facilitate and expedite deployment of the joint peacekeeping force tasked with quelling the violence in the strife-torn region.

Participants at the fifth meeting of the Tripartite Committee on the AU-UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) noted that the deployment of military forces, including troops, officers and military observers, has reached 67 per cent as of the end of March.

Speaking to the press after today's meeting in the North Darfur capital of El Fasher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra said the steady increase in deployment over the past year was an indication of the success of the regular Tripartite Committee meetings.

At full strength, UNAMID is slated to become the world body's largest peacekeeping operation, with some 26,000 military and police personnel.

In his latest report on UNAMID, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that more than a year after it was set up, the operation still lacks critical logistical equipment, especially air power.

"The provision of outstanding equipment, in particular military helicopter assets, remains critical to increasing the mobility and operational impact of the mission," he stated, calling on Member States who are in a position to provide these vital resources to do so without further delay.

The next Tripartite Committee meeting is scheduled to be held in Darfur in early June.

UNAMID was set up over a year ago by the Security Council to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fighting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
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AU-UN PEACEKEEPERS AIRLIFT EXAM PAPERS TO SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DARFUR

AU-UN PEACEKEEPERS AIRLIFT EXAM PAPERS TO SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DARFUR
New York, Mar 26 2009 2:00PM

The joint United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, today helped airlift examination materials to remote secondary schools in the war-torn western region of Sudan.

The blue helmets flew three helicopters across North Darfur to distribute exam papers to nine locations across the state, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

This is the second such operation UNAMID has conducted for the 2009 certificate examinations, which are held throughout Sudan and slated to start on 30 March, she said.

Elsewhere, the hybrid peacekeeping force has recently characterized the current security situation in Darfur as relatively calm apart from a few incidents of banditry. In the past few weeks, UNAMID has reported a rise in attacks on peacekeeping staff, carjacking, other banditry, and harassment of civilians in Darfur.

There has also been concern over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the indictment last month of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced in Darfur, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.
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DARFUR RIFE WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS, CIVILIANS, UN SAYS

DARFUR RIFE WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS, CIVILIANS, UN SAYS
New York, Mar 18 2009 6:00PM

Attacks on peacekeeping staff, carjacking, other banditry, and harassment of civilians continue to proliferate in Darfur, the African Union-United Nations mission in the strife-torn region of Sudan (UNAMID) reported today.

A UNAMID vehicle was carjacked in Nyala, South Darfur, this morning by armed men in military uniforms, and on Monday, two of the mission's national staff members were stopped while they were driving a UN vehicle, beaten and left by five armed men dressed in civilian clothes in El Geneina, West Darfur.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday condemned an ambush that led to the death of a blue helmet, the second attack on a peacekeeping patrol in the region in a little over a week, and said he was "deeply concerned by the increased security threats faced by UNAMID in Darfur.

At the same time, concern continues to mount over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the recent indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

The joint UN/Government of Sudan assessments of humanitarian gaps in Darfur being conducted in the wake of those expulsions continue, having been extended by one day to be completed tomorrow, UNAMID added.

The three assessment teams will have wrap-up meetings at the level of state Government tomorrow and then travel to Sudan's capital, Khartoum, where they will sort through the data for the following few days, the mission said.

Meanwhile, the number of internally displaced persons (IDP) fleeing violence and harassment continues to grow, with new arrivals in the Zam Zam camp in North Darfur pushing the total in the camp to 80,000.

The majority of the newcomers are from villages and IDP camps in South Darfur, but there are also arrivals from North Darfur.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced in Darfur, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.
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UN CONDEMNS FATAL AMBUSH OF DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS

UN CONDEMNS FATAL AMBUSH OF DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS
New York, Mar 17 2009 2:00PM

The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) condemned an ambush earlier today that led to the death of one blue helmet, the second such attack on peacekeepers in the strife-torn region of Sudan in a week.

"UNAMID strongly condemns these cowardly acts of violence against its peacekeepers and calls on all parties including the Government of Sudan to ensure the safety of UN personnel in the region," a UN spokesperson said in New York.

Approximately eight unknown gunmen opened fire on an escort patrol that was returning to its base in Nyala, South Darfur, wounding one peacekeeper as the blue helmets returned fire in self-defence, spokesperson Marie Okabe said.

The wounded soldier was immediately taken for medical treatment at the mission's hospital in Nyala and later died while being evacuated to Al Fasher for further medical treatment, according to UNAMID.

"These ongoing attacks against UNAMID peacekeepers will not dissuade us from pursuing our mandate in Darfur," AU-UN Joint Representative Rodolphe Adada said.

This is the second time in just over a week that UNAMID peacekeepers have been ambushed by unknown armed men while conducting their duties in Darfur, as concerns mount over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the recent indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

On 9 March four peacekeepers were shot and wounded in a patrol that was returning to its base in El Geneina, West Darfur, and, following that incident, a UN spokesperson said that the number of attacks against peacekeeping personnel and incidents of banditry in 2009 to that date had exceeded those for the entirety of 2008.

On the humanitarian front, the Secretary-General is continuing to make telephone calls to leaders in Africa and the Middle East to address the humanitarian situation in Darfur, according to Deputy Spokesperson Okabe.

Sudan decided to begin ejecting 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on 4 March, immediately after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir.

An estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced in the western region of Sudan, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.
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UN RELIEF CHIEF VOICES CONCERN OVER SUDAN LEADER’S CALL FOR ‘SUDANIZATION’ OF AID

UN RELIEF CHIEF VOICES CONCERN OVER SUDAN LEADER'S CALL FOR 'SUDANIZATION' OF AID
New York, Mar 16 2009 7:00PM

The top United Nations humanitarian official said he has been "taken by surprise" over media reports today that Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has called for all international aid groups to leave the vast African nation within one year.

The reports come less than two weeks after Sudan ordered the expulsion of 13 major international aid organizations, which assist nearly 5 million people in the war-torn Darfur region. The decision to eject these groups came immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on 4 March for President Al-Bashir for alleged crimes committed in the war-torn region.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said today that his office has yet to receive any clarification regarding Mr. Al-Bashir's statements today.

"I think our position will clearly be that this decision is not appropriate and it's a decision which should be reversed," the UN official told reporters in New York.

"The relief operation is already heavily 'Sudan-ized,'" he said, pointing out that 13,000 out of the 14,000 relief workers in Darfur are Sudanese.

While the UN is happy for Sudan to play a larger part in assisting those in need "in principle," Mr. Holmes stressed that "it needs to be done in a practical way."

Joint UN-Government missions are under way to assess critical gaps in aid and are expected to return to the capital, Khartoum, this Wednesday, he said.

Mr. Holmes, who also serves as UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted that significant effects of the aid groups' expulsion will not be visible in Darfur in the extreme short-term given the level of aid provided in the past.

"But over time, it will have a dramatic impact if we're not able to fill the gaps" in areas such as water and sanitation, treating disease outbreaks and food distribution, he said.

The Under-Secretary-General expressed concern over meningitis cases in some camps, voicing hope that a vaccination campaign targeting 100,000 people can be carried out by some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) still operating in Darfur.

He said progress has been made in the UN's talks with the Government regarding arrangements for the departure of staff members of expelled aid groups as well as the transfer of assets.

"There has been a degree of cooperation and pragmatic dealing which has enabled things to work a little bit better on the ground," with international staff being given extra time to remain and handle issues pertaining to national workers, among other tasks, Mr. Holmes said.

"The Government has assured us that they remain committed – despite this decision and the way in which it was carried out – that they do remain committed to the previous agreements they had with us about the facilitation of humanitarian assistance," he said.
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BAN VOICES CONCERN AFTER AID WORKERS ABDUCTED IN DARFUR

BAN VOICES CONCERN AFTER AID WORKERS ABDUCTED IN DARFUR
New York, Mar 12 2009 12:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he is deeply concerned at the kidnapping of three humanitarian workers in Darfur, and once again called on the Sudanese Government to reverse its decision last week to expel 13 major aid groups.

The three aid workers abducted yesterday are staff members of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Medecins sans Frontieres' Belgian branch.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters today, Mr. Ban stressed that these NGOs play a vital role in assisting some 4.7 million people in the strife-torn region.

"The concern of the United Nations in Sudan has always been, and will remain, peace and the well-being of the country's people," Mr. Ban stated. "For millions of Sudanese, these NGOs are a lifeline. They must be allowed to do their work."

The expulsions started immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

As of 10 March, 183 international staff of the affected NGOs had already left the country, with others are awaiting exit visas to depart, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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SUDAN: TOP ENVOY WELCOMES WITHDRAWAL OF GROUPS FROM DISPUTED AREA

SUDAN: TOP ENVOY WELCOMES WITHDRAWAL OF GROUPS FROM DISPUTED AREA
New York, Mar 12 2009 9:00AM

The top United Nations envoy to Sudan today welcomed the withdrawal of the last remaining forces of two groups from the disputed town of Abyei, which lies in an oil-rich area close to the boundary between the vast African nations' north and south.

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, said that with this move, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) have left the local Joint Integrated Units – combining forces of both parties – as the only military force in the town.

Last May, deadly fighting broke out in Abyei, which led to the destruction of much of the town and the sudden displacement of tens of thousands of residents.

The following month, an agreement was reached on a road map seeking to restore stability to the region, spurring civilians who had fled as a result of the violence to start to return.

Mr. Qazi today voiced hope that progress made on the withdrawal from Abyei will opent he door to other advances in implementing this road map, including the funding of the Abyei Area Administration.

"This shows how much the parties can do when they work together as partners," he said. "This kind of cooperation can serve as a model as we tackle the remaining challenges ahead."

The envoy lauded the parties for their efforts to keep the arbitration process on track, noting that this shows the potential for progress in putting all elements of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) into place.

That pact was signed in January 2005, ending the 21-year war between the SAF and the SPLA that killed at least two million people and displaced 4.5 million others.
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DARFUR: UN, SUDAN ASSESS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AFTER OUSTER OF AID GROUPS

DARFUR: UN, SUDAN ASSESS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AFTER OUSTER OF AID GROUPS
New York, Mar 11 2009 6:00PM

A joint United Nations and Sudanese Government mission to evaluate the need for food, water, health and emergency shelter in Darfur commenced today, as the humanitarian community attempts to recover from the expulsion of 13 major aid groups assisting some 4.7 million people.

The expulsions started immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

As of 10 March, 183 international staff of the affected non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had already left the country, with others awaiting exit visas to depart, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

A UN spokesperson in New York said today that in addition to Darfur other areas of North Sudan would be deeply affected by the expulsions.

For example, Abyei, Blue Nile State, and Southern Kordofan State were located on the front lines of the North-South civil war and some of the expelled NGOs had provided health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education, food security, and other assistance to hundreds of thousands of people there.

In addition, concern for the safety of all humanitarian staff continues following repeated incidents of intimidation and harassment and reported efforts to confiscate NGO, UN, and donor-owned equipment.

The UN has requested the Government of Sudan to return all confiscated items, UN Spokesperson Marie Okabe said.

Meanwhile, the African Union-UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that a peaceful demonstration made up mostly of youth and labour movement figures took place today in Nyala, South Darfur, condemning the ICC decision to indict President Al-Bashir.

Despite being hit by another carjacking last night, UNAMID said its operations proceeded normally today, conducting 51 military and 96 police patrols around villages and displaced persons camps in the past 24 hours.

At the same time, there has been some diplomatic activity on Darfur, Ms. Okabe said, reporting that representatives of the Government of Sudan and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) recommitted themselves to a negotiated settlement to the conflict, at a meeting in Doha, Qatar, facilitated by UN-AU Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé.

Mr. Bassolé intends to meet with the representatives of other rebel movements and regional countries in the coming days in an effort to broaden the participation in the Doha talks.

He is scheduled to brief the Security Council on the Darfur political process on 26 March.
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