JOINT AFRICAN UNION-UN ENVOY DISCUSSES BETTER SECURITY WITH DARFUR’S DISPLACED

The head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur met today with leaders of a camp housing some of the region's displaced to discuss improved security measures following the killing of a camp leader and his wife earlier this week.

The mission, known as UNAMID, has been monitoring the situation in the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the wake of the murders of Chief Umda Saroukh and his wife, who were shot by unknown armed men at their house near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

Rodolphe Adada, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative and head of UNAMID, noted that the mission had prioritized community policing on its agenda and the camp's residents needed to extend meaningful cooperation in the form of a joint approach to security and exchange of information inside the camp.

He urged unity among the leaders, stressing that their needs, challenges, concerns and interests were the same as those of the general population in the camps.

"UNAMID could only work well with a coherent and united team of leaders," he told the leaders.

Mr. Adada added that UNAMID was not in Darfur to replace the Sudanese Government, but to work with it to improve the safety and security of all Darfurians, especially the displaced.

An estimated 2.6 million people have been displaced in Darfur since fighting began in 2003, pitting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen against rebel groups, and as many as 4.7 million people have been left totally dependent on humanitarian aid.

While expressing gratitude to UNAMID for its services to the IDP community, including education, the Umdas voiced their concern about their own protection and ongoing criminal activities in the camp, among other issues.

They also raised concerns that UNAMID's mandate did not extend to executive policing powers of arrest and detention. Further, the leaders requested that UN patrols work closely with them in deploying patrol vehicles to problematic areas in the camp.

The Umdas and UNAMID Police will further explore proposals put forward at today's meeting.

Meanwhile, the mission announced that the first batch of the Ethiopian Infantry Battalion comprising 151 personnel arrived today in Darfur, and another 151 are scheduled to follow tomorrow.

The remaining members of the infantry battalion – totalling some 800 soldiers – are expected to be deployed in September or October, helping UNAMID to advance toward its goal of 97 per cent deployment by the end of this year.

Established by the Security Council in 2007, the mission is expected to have a total of 19,555 military personnel at full deployment.

In a related development, the Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Djibril Bassolé, is in Tripoli, Libya, where he is meeting a number of Darfur rebel movements willing to engage in peace talks with the Sudanese Government.
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Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Consensual Agreement Among Mauritanian Parties

The Government of the United States applauds the Mauritanian parties for reaching a consensual agreement that will restore constitutional order through a transitional process to resolve the current political crisis. We commend Senegalese President Wade for his vision and persistent pursuit of this agreement. The accord represents a laudable success for the African Union and the African people in resolving this crisis. The United States will, in conjunction with the other members of the International Contact Group and community, actively support all parties to this agreement, including efforts to ensure that the resultant elections are organized and held in a free, fair and credible manner.

COOPERATION WITH AFRICAN UNION CRUCIAL TO PROMOTING PEACE – SECURITY COUNCIL

COOPERATION WITH AFRICAN UNION CRUCIAL TO PROMOTING PEACE – SECURITY COUNCIL
New York, May 28 2009 8:00PM
Enhanced collaboration with the African Union (AU) will help to promote peace and security in Africa, members of the Security Council delegation, which recently wrapped up a week-long visit to the continent, said today.

The Council mission held talks – a follow-up to two previous gatherings in 2007 and 2008 – with their AU counterpart in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 16 May, agreeing "to pursue their consultations on ways and means to strengthen their cooperation and partnership," according to a communiqué issued after the talks.

Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda of Uganda told the 15-member body today that "meetings between the two bodies are useful in strengthening cooperation, particularly in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, including the promotion of human rights, democracy, and rule of law and constitutional order in Africa."

Also highlighting the virtues of UN-AU collaboration was Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, who was the joint leader of the mission to the Great Lakes region in connection with Rwanda.

He said the Council's meeting at the with the AU's Peace and Security Council "demonstrated the depth of the relationship and the ways in which it's becoming more substantive," noting such areas of cooperation such as Somalia and Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, where the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID, is in place.

Regarding the mission's Rwanda leg, Mr. Sawers said that it was "invaluable" for the Council to see first-hand the situations in the region that it is dealing with, such as the rapprochement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, who joined forces to root out the mainly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) from the DRC's east.

For his part, Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, who led the mission in the Great Lakes in connection with the DRC, highlighted the serious issue of sexual violence, "which is far too wide-spread."

He said that the Council delegation was "able to see this with horror" when the visited a hospital in the capital, Kinshasa. The Government has taken measures, including creating a fund to promote the protection of children, he added.

The DRC has "already started combating impunity and this must remain a priority, which we re-affirmed to the government," Mr. Ripert noted. "Armed groups, the FARDC [Congolese armed forces], must stop all their abuses against the population, in particular, rapes."

United States Ambassador Susan Rice, who led the last leg of the Council's Africa trip, told the Council that the purpose of the delegation's visit to Liberia was to "help re-affirm the Security Council's support for the Government and people of Liberia and for UNMIL's [the UN Mission in Liberia] efforts to promote peace and security."

She paid tribute to the "inspiring" all-women Indian formed police unit (FPU) – comprising police officers who have received specialized training in high-risk operations and managing crowds – serving with <"http://unmil.org/">UNMIL. They have "helped to motivate more Liberian women to apply for more law enforcement jobs," she said.

Last June, a similar Security Council mission visited Djibouti, Sudan, Chad, DRC and Côte d'Ivoire.
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JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING

JOINT UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CONDEMNS NORTH DARFUR FIGHTING
New York, May 25 2009 2:00PM
The hybrid African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has condemned heavy fighting in and around the town of Umm Baru which left over 50 people injured and forced hundreds to flee their homes.

According to a news release issued by the Mission, Sudanese Government forces clashed with armed elements of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for several hours yesterday in the town, which is located about 100 kilometres from the Chadian border in the far west of North Darfur state.

Explosions were also reported in the area after Government planes flew overhead last night, the Mission added.

UNAMID peacekeepers based at a camp near Umm Baru report that at least 53 people have been seriously injured and need evacuation for further medical treatment. The casualties include civilians, Government soldiers and JEM members.

About 350 civilians -- mainly women, children and the elderly -- and 100 unarmed Sudanese soldiers and members of the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minnawi (SLA/MM), a pro-Government faction, are currently taking refuge near the UNAMID camp.

The Mission stressed that urgent humanitarian aid, particularly food, water, medical supplies and tents, is needed to help civilians displaced by the fighting. UNAMID has treated some of the wounded, and is on standby to evacuate those needing further medical care.

UNAMID chief Rodolphe Adada condemned yesterday's fighting, and urged all parties to the Darfur conflict to seek a peaceful resolution to their differences.

Yesterday's clashes follow an incident earlier this month in which JEM armed elements attacked Sudanese Government forces based near the town of Kornoi, located between Umm Baru and the Chadian border.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes in more than five years of fighting in Darfur, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.

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UN COMMITTED TO HELP AFRICAN NATIONS PURSUE PEACE, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT -- BAN

UN COMMITTED TO HELP AFRICAN NATIONS PURSUE PEACE, SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT -- BAN
New York, May 25 2009 10:00AM
Spotlighting some of the major challenges facing African nations today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to supporting the people of the continent in building durable peace, security and sustainable development.

Mr. Ban made the pledge in a <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sgsm12260.doc.htm>message for Africa Day, which marks the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union (AU). The annual event serves as an opportunity to highlight Africa's achievements as well as take stock of remaining challenges.

Drawing attention to the devastating effect of the ongoing economic downturn on the continent, the Secretary-General urged the international community not to step back from its commitments.

"At the very time when Africa has achieved several years of sustained economic growth an
d improved stability, the global economic crisis is having a severe impact. We must protect the continent's poorest and most vulnerable people," he stated.

Another threat to Africa's development is climate change, he said, emphasizing the importance of countries to "seal a deal" and reach agreement in Copenhagen this December on a new global pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"If we work hard, and agree on deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, we can avoid some of the worst consequences -- but not all of them," said Mr. Ban. "That is why we must also support adaptation, especially for the poor, who will suffer first -- and worst."

The UN chief also pointed to what he described as "a troubling re-emergence of unconstitutional changes of government" on the continent.

"This reminds us not only of the need to support democratization, but to strengthen Africa's capacity to maintain peace and security," he stressed.

Toward that goal, he said, the UN Security Council is buil
ding a closer working relationship with the AU Peace and Security Council. The world body is also moving ahead with the UN Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme in support of the AU, especially in providing technical support for AU peacekeeping.

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BAN: AID WORKERS’ EXPULSION FROM SUDAN IMPEDING PEACEKEEPING, RELIEF EFFORTS

The expulsion of humanitarian and human rights agencies from Sudan following the issuance of an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president for war crimes is thwarting the United Nations' efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid, Secretary-General Ban K-moon said.

Mr. Ban characterized the Government's decision to eject 16 humanitarian and human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), following the indictment on 4 March of President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as an "extremely negative" development.

"While joint United Nations-Government of the Sudan efforts can address some of the most critical gaps in aid delivery in the coming weeks, the cumulative effects over time of the removal of such a large amount of humanitarian capacity puts well over 1 million people at life-threatening risk," he wrote in his latest report to the Security Council on the deployment of the hybrid UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Darfur region.

The start of the rainy season next month could exacerbate the already dire situation, he added.

The Secretary-General called on authorities to urgently "re-establish an atmosphere of trust and mutual confidence with the humanitarian community," stressing the importance of cooperation to fill the most immediate gaps.

The impact of the expulsions on the work of the UN-AU mission, known as UNAMID, cannot be underestimated, he said. "A significant disruption in the provision of humanitarian assistance will almost certainly lead to a serious heightening of tensions among internally displaced persons [IDPs], particularly in the larger camps for the displaced."

As a result, the risk of violence could rise, complicating UNAMID's ability to carry out its protection mandate, Mr. Ban underlined.

He also voiced concern over continued insecurity – including clashes between Government forces and armed groups, the recurrence of tribal fighting and the build-up of troops along the Chad-Sudan border – which has impeded the mission's ability to visit locations to assess the impact of bombardments on civilians.

The Secretary-General wrote that the security of UN and associated personnel is also a critical issue, with vehicle hijackings and compound invasions growing increasingly deliberate in nature.

"The latest security developments highlight, once again, the fundamental challenges that UNAMID continues to face while operating in an environment where the parties show no intent to give up the use of force, and further underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive settlement to the Darfur crisis," he said.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur 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.

In spite of the challenges UNAMID faces, Mr. Ban said that the mission has "been able to make a difference on the ground."

But the report called on Member States to provide critical equipment, especially military helicopters, to increase UNAMID's mobility and operational impact.
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UN-AFRICAN UNION MISSION CHIEF MEETS WITH SENIOR DARFUR OFFICIAL

The humanitarian situation was among the issues discussed in a meeting today between the head of the United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and a top official in the war-torn region of western Sudan.

UN-AU Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada met with Minni Minawi, a former rebel who currently serves as both Chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) and Special Assistant to President Omar Al-Bashir.

Mr. Adada and Mr. Minawi also conferred on bolstering security and development, as well as the role UNAMID can play in supporting Darfurians through more Quick Impact Projects (QIPs).

In addition, they discussed the need for closer contact between the mission and the TDRA.

UNAMID was established 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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ARMED ROBBERY REPORTED AT STAFF RESIDENCE OF UN-AFRICAN UNION DARFUR FORCE

Unidentified gunmen broke into a guest house yesterday occupied by personnel from the hybrid African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur, known as UNAMID.

The two men demanded the keys for a couple of UNAMID vehicles parked in the compound of the guest house in Mournei, approximately 80 kilometres from the West Darfur capital, El Geneina.

UNAMID said that the security officer at the guest house escaped without suffering any injuries and was able to report the incident to Sudanese police, informing them that the bandits got away with a VHF hand held radio and DVD player.

The peacekeeping mission tasked with quelling the violence in the war-ravaged western flank of Sudan also reported that banditry remains widespread in West Darfur, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told the press in New York.

Meanwhile, in South Darfur, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, Susana Malcorra, today travelled to the provincial capital Nyala to pay a courtesy visit on the Wali, or Governor, during which they discussed issues related to the joint AU-UN mission.

The Wali indicated that his government had approved land for UNAMID in South Darfur and reaffirmed his government's commitment to cooperate with the peacekeeping operation.

While in Nyala, Ms. Malcorra also met with UNAMID officials and toured the peacekeepers' facilities, including the Pakistan Level III hospital where she was briefed on the progress of construction work underway.

More than one year on from transferring peacekeeping operations 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 Darfur.

The hybrid force was set up 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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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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EGYPTIAN TROOPS ARRIVE IN DARFUR TO BOOST AFRICAN UNION-UN FORCE

The hybrid United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur, known as UNAMID, received a boost today from the arrival of 100 personnel from the second Egyptian Infantry Battalion.

Another 100 troops from the battalion are slated to arrive tomorrow in the strife-torn western flank of Sudan as a meeting of the Tripartite Committee – comprising the Government of Sudan, the AU and the UN – is scheduled to take place for the first time in Darfur.

Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra is expected to attend the meeting in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which will examine ways to facilitate and expedite deployment of the AU-UN peacekeeping operation in the region.

The hybrid 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.

More than one year on from transferring the task of suppressing the violence 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 Darfur.

In related news, UNAMID reported that an investigation team was dispatched to a fire that broke out last night at the Al Riyad camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), near El Geneina in West Darfur. As well as leaving a large number of people homeless, the blaze caused heavy damage to about 35 shelters and the loss of many animals.

This follows last week's arson attack in the West Darfur Abu Zar camp for IDPs in which two people were killed and three were rushed to hospital in El Geneina with serious injuries.

Meanwhile, the hybrid peacekeeping force characterized the security situation in Darfur for the past 72 hours as relatively calm apart from a few incidents of banditry and carjacking in both North and West Darfur. In the past few weeks, UNAMID has reported a rise in attacks on peacekeeping staff and harassment of civilians in the region.

There has also been concern recently over the safety of humanitarian workers, many of whom have been ordered to leave the region following the indictment earlier this month of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.
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FROM GAZA TO SUDAN, BAN HIGHLIGHTS CRISES CONFRONTING ARAB WORLD

From the widening fallout of the global economic crisis to the suffering of victims of armed conflict, the Arab world faces insecurity today and the potential for more tomorrow, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Summit of the League of Arab States in Doha today.

"The toll in human lives and deferred development has been tragically high," he said in his address to the gathering. "The region's large groups of refugees and internally displaced persons continue to live with their dignity under attack and with little ability to plan for their futures."

Mr. Ban said he remained gravely concerned about the situation is Gaza, which is dealing with the aftermath of the three-week offensive launched by Israel in late December 2008.

"The people of Gaza are suffering, and the situation at the crossings is intolerable," he stated, asserting that the way forward is a durable ceasefire, open crossings, and Palestinian reconciliation.

On Sudan, the Secretary-General urged the Government once again to reverse its decision to expel key international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and suspend the work of three national NGOs that provide life-sustaining services for more than one million people.

The Sudanese Government took that decision on 4 March, immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Al-Bashir, who was also present at today's Summit in the Qatari capital.

"Despite the efforts of Sudanese line ministries, UN agencies and the remaining NGOs, the gaps cannot be filled with existing capacities," Mr. Ban noted concerning the humanitarian crisis in the western Darfur region of the country. "Relief efforts should not become politicized. People in need must be helped irrespective of political differences."

Turning to another hot-spot on the continent, he said the present situation in Somalia offers a "rare window of opportunity," and urged immediate support for the new Government that was sworn in last month.

"Those of us with influence on the groups remaining outside of the peace process should call on them to join for the sake of national reconciliation," Mr. Ban said, adding that more must also be done to promote security on the ground, including by supporting the African Union mission there (AMISOM) and Somali security forces at an upcoming donor conference.

The Secretary-General also highlighted the multiple elections taking place this year in Iraq to strengthen democratic representation, advance the political process and promote stability, and said he looked forward to free and transparent polls on 7 June in Lebanon.

While in Doha, Mr. Ban held bilateral talks today with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, as well as with the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Foreign Minister of Norway and the President of the United Arab Emirates.

Yesterday, he held separate meetings with the Emir of Qatar and the Presidents of Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Somalia and Syria.

Tomorrow the Secretary-General will open the International Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague, which will assess the current political, security and development issues in the South Asian nation.
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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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UN-AU PEACEKEEPING FORCE CARRIES OUT ANTI-BANDITRY PATROLS IN DARFUR

In spite of the overall calm security situation, the United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region is continuing its patrols in the face of banditry activities.

The military forces and police of the mission, known as UNAMID, have conducted dozens of patrols in and around villages sheltering internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Sudanese police reported renewed fighting between two tribes over a disputed water point last week.

UNAMID has been distributing 45,000 litres of water a day to the Zam Zam camp, which continues to receive new waves of IDPs. Distributions began on 11 March to support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help those who have just arrived at the camp.

The mission intends to continue its distributions – which total nearly 500,000 litres to date – until a long-term solution is found.

For its part, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), in conjunction with aid partners and the Government of Sudan, has dug nine shallow wells and drilled three boreholes as water sources for the Zam Zam camp.

Sudan decided to suspend 13 NGOs on 4 March, immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes. The operations of three national NGOs have also been suspended.

In a letter sent to the leaders of the so-called Group of 20 (G20) nations ahead of their summit next week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concerns about the expulsion of the aid groups, which assist nearly five million Darfurians in need, over half of whom are IDPs.

Addressing the General Assembly in an informal meeting today, Mr. Ban said that in the wake of the Government's decision to expel the NGOs, the UN and Sudanese authorities have agreed to assess the situation in three states in Darfur to identify aid gaps. He stressed that capacity on the ground is insufficient to sustain relief activities in both the short and medium term.

Last week, a senior UN humanitarian official called on the Government to respect existing agreements and its own laws on the operation of relief groups in Darfur, with the ousting of the 13 aid agencies resulting in "significant" threats to the dependent population.

"We want to engage in transparent and productive dialogue with the Government based on these laws and agreements," Rashid Khalikov, Director of the New York section of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told the Security Council.

He noted with additional concern that on 15 March, Mr. Al-Bashir spoke of the possible departure of all foreign humanitarian organizations in Sudan in a year's time, even if the violence and displacement in Darfur continues.

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. Around 4.7 million people in the region depend on lifesaving aid.

Mr. Khalikov said the expulsion of the 13 organizations had been followed by an increase in violence against UNAMID and aid groups, along with the seizure of humanitarian assets by the Government.

In a related development, Major General Pagan Jung Thapa, Force Commander of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), visited UNAMID headquarters yesterday to meet with his UNAMID counterpart, General Martin Luther Agwai, and with AU-UN Joint Representative Rodolphe Adada to discuss issues of cooperation and collaboration.
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UN-BACKED 2009 SUMMIT ON WORLD FOOD CRISIS GAINS SUPPORT

A proposed 2009 world summit on the food crisis, which continues in poor countries despite falling commodity prices, is rapidly gaining backing and growing in relevance, the United Nations agricultural agency said today.

"The world food insecurity situation is unbearable," the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) affirmed in a press statement released after the leaders of the countries of the Caribbean Economic Community (CARICOM), as well as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, announced their support for a November parlay.

According to a recent FAO report, the total number of undernourished people in the world reached 963 million in 2008, nearly 15 per cent of the world's population, prompting the agency's Director-General, Jacques Diouf, to call for the meeting.

The proposal, FAO said, had already received support from the heads of State and Government of the League of Arab States at the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Kuwait last January.

It was also backed by the African Union (AU) at its assembly in Addis Ababa in early February, as well as by the heads of state and governments of several other States.

The FAO Director-General stressed that the Summit, to be held in Rome at the 36th Session of the Conference of the Organization, would reach tangible results by securing broad consensus on the total and rapid eradication of hunger and setting a new world food order.

"The Summit should lead to greater coherence in the global governance of world food security. It will define how we can improve policies and the structural aspects of the international agricultural system by putting forward lasting political, financial and technical solutions to the problem of food insecurity in the world," Mr. Diouf said.
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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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FUNDING HURDLES THWART EXPANSION OF AU PEACEKEEPING CAPABILITIES – BAN

FUNDING HURDLES THWART EXPANSION OF AU PEACEKEEPING CAPABILITIES – BAN
New York, Mar 18 2009 5:00PM

Difficulties in securing necessary funding are impeding the ability of the African Union (AU) to maintain and expand its peacekeeping capacities, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cautioned today.

"A peacekeeping mission that is under-resourced can imperil the initial benefits gained through its deployment, and can raise expectations without providing the means of fulfilling them," he told the Security Council.

The 15-member body met today to discuss how to bolster the UN-AU relationship and on how better to support the peacekeeping capacity of the AU, which has troops in areas such as Somalia.

The Council was also briefed by former Italian President Romano Prodi, who heads a panel to support AU peacekeeping operations established under a UN mandate.

Mr. Prodi presented a report which offered recommendations on how to boost the AU's "ability to respond to crises and in its need for a capacity that is capable of promoting long-term stability on the continent."

The publication further stressed the need for a "more effective strategic relationship" between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, as well as between the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission.

"A shared strategic vision is essential if the United Nations and the African Union are to exercise their respective advantages: the African Union's ability to provide a rapid response and the United Nations capacity for sustained operations," the report said.

The ties between the UN and the AU have been expanded but have "yet to develop the responsiveness that will enable us to work together and to prevent conflicts rather than only respond to crises," the Secretary-General said at today's meeting, which will hear from dozens of speakers.

The suggestions provided by the panel headed by Mr. Prodi are a first step, Mr. Ban said, towards developing a more effective partnership – which "has the potential to affect millions of people on the African continent" – between the two organizations.
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SOMALIA: TOP UN ENVOY PRAISES NEW GOVERNMENT, URGES FULL SUPPORT

SOMALIA: TOP UN ENVOY PRAISES NEW GOVERNMENT, URGES FULL SUPPORT
New York, Mar 13 2009 1:00PM

The United Nations' top envoy for Somalia today lauded progress made in the past month by the new Government of the Horn of Africa country, which has been torn by factional strife since the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah encouraged the Government of National Unity to continue working towards peace and stability and urged Somalis and the international community to support it.

The formation of the Government last month, and its return to the violence-plagued capital, Mogadishu, followed on the 2008 UN-facilitated Djibouti Agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, in which the two agreed to end their conflict.

In today's statement, Mr. Ould-Abdallah said he was pleased by the number of "patriotic Parliamentarians" who have returned to Mogadishu to start their work, and called for concrete diplomatic and material assistance for both branches of the administration.

"President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Speaker and the Prime Minister have demonstrated responsible leadership in all fields and the unity Government is now functioning from the capital," Mr. Ould-Abdallah said.

He added that the Council of Ministers has met a number of times and passed important measures, including one on the place of Sharia, or Islamic law, in the country.

"All these developments will not only help the move towards normality inside the country, but will also help secure Somalia's image and reputation abroad. There is now absolutely no excuse for any Somali to continue plotting to destroy more Somali lives," he said.

Planning is underway for the next meeting of the High Level Committee that is tasked to look at such issues as political cooperation, justice and reconciliation, Mr. Ould-Abdallah said, adding that there would also be a meeting of the Joint Security Committee shortly.

With the vast majority of Somalis working together for the first time in many years, he said, the international community must do its part to fully support the new Government. "This help is not needed at some point in the future, but right now," he stressed.

He noted that President Ahmed has received offers of support from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Unite States and elsewhere and Somalia will be discussed at the Security Council on 20 March and at the upcoming League of Arab States Summit in Qatar.

In his latest report on Somalia, Secretary-General Ban also praised recent progress, but cautioned that much work lies ahead, with the instability caused by hostilities, abductions and fear continuing to hinder delivery of vital humanitarian aid.

A January UN analysis found that more than three million people in Somalia, a third or more of the total population, will remain dependent on assistance this year.

Mr. Ban noted that among the aims of the UN's comprehensive strategy for Somalia is to help the African Union Mission there (AMISOM) give Somali security institutions the capacity to create a level of security to enable the Djibouti peace process to continue.

The UN Security Council has yet to decide whether to deploy a multidimensional UN peacekeeping operation that would take over from AMISOM.
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