BAN VOICES CONTINUED UN SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed the continued support of the United Nations for the work of the International Criminal Court (<"http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC">ICC), which he said has become the "centrepiece" of the global criminal justice system since it came into existence only several years ago.

"The establishment of the International Criminal Court was a landmark in the efforts of the international community to enforce the applicability of international humanitarian law, and to advance the cause of justice and the rule of law on a universal scale," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4058">message to the Consultative Conference on International Criminal Justice.

The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and is based on a treaty known as the Rome Statue. To date, 100 States are party to the Statute, which has nearly 140 signatories.

The efforts by the UN to further the causes of peace, development and human rights are closely connected to the work of the ICC, Mr. Ban noted, adding that the world body stands ready to do all that is needed to "facilitate the Court's noble and important mission."

In the message, delivered by UN Legal Counsel Patricia O'Brien, the Secretary-General pointed out the increased support for the idea that justice must be an essential part of post-conflict strategies to ensure a sustainable peace.

This could take the form of international accountability mechanisms, boosting national accountability methods, and setting up possible non-judicial forums such as Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, he said.

Since the Rome Statue entered into force in 2002, Mr. Ban said, "the activities of the Court and its Prosecutor have had a discernible effect on potential perpetrators of international crimes."

Currently, four situations – the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and the Darfur region of Sudan – are under investigation by the ICC Prosecutor.

CHAD: $1 MILLION IN FRESH FUNDS KEEPS UN AIR SERVICE ALIVE FOR ANOTHER MONTH

Humanitarian workers assisting over 430,000 vulnerable people in Chad will be able to get to where they need to go thanks to $1 million in new funding from the United States for United Nations-run aid flights operating in the West African nation.

The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) plays a vital role in accessing remote locations and in cases where insecurity prevents travel by road.

Run by the World Food Programme (WFP), the service flies aid workers from the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as journalists and others, to some of the hardest-to-reach emergency operations around the world.

In Chad alone, some 5,000 aid workers per month use UNHAS to help 250,000 refugees from the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur, as well as 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

WFP's Emilia Casella told reporters in Geneva that despite the new funds, the service would shut down half of its operations by 15 September, and be grounded altogether by 30 September, without more resources.

The Chad flights need another $5.7 million to stay in the air until the end of the year, she noted.

With a 2009 budget of $160 million, the air service operates in Chad, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, the Central African Republic (CAR), West Africa and Afghanistan.
________________

ICC GRANTS TEMPORARY RELEASE FOR FORMER CONGOLESE LEADER FACING TRIAL

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today decided to grant the request of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for a conditional release until the start of the former Congolese leader's trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mr. Bemba, the former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), faces charges for alleged crimes committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between October 2002 and March 2003, including rape, murder and pillaging.

"Today, 14 August 2009, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court decided to grant the request of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for interim release, albeit under conditions," the Court announced in a news release.

Mr. Bemba will be released once the conditions have been set, and it has been determined which country will take him in until his trial, added the Court, which is based in The Hague.

The ICC also announced that Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will today appeal the decision to grant Mr. Bemba conditional release.

The Prosecution "considers that Mr. Bemba, who is still physically in detention in The Hague, should stay in prison. The Appeals Chamber will review whether the decision to release Mr. Bemba is correct."

"The judges of the ICC have confirmed that Mr. Bemba must stand trial to answer the very serious charges that have been brought against him" said Mr. Moreno-Ocampo. "Victims and witnesses can be confident that the trial will take place in the near future and that the Court will continue to guarantee their safety."

The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
________________

UN SEEKS $1.5 MILLION TO TACKLE RISING MALNUTRITION AMONG CENTRAL AFRICAN CHILDREN

Malnutrition is on the rise among children in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nation Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) warned today, appealing for $1.5 million to provide life-saving support.

CAR is one of the most impoverished nations in the world and remains beset by violence and widespread displacement in the north. An estimated 1 million people, out of a population of 4 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

"In both the conflict-affected north and the more stable south, almost 700,000 children under five are living below acceptable standards. Many are moving toward the outer edge of survival," said Jeremy Hopkins, acting representative of UNICEF in CAR.

Poverty, ongoing insecurity, and loss of income in areas where the diamond mining sector has been impacted by the global economic slowdown are among the causes cited for this situation.

Also a factor is the prevalence of HIV in the country, which at 6.3 per cent is the highest in its region and affects the nutritional situation of families.

In addition to providing essential food, drugs and supplies, funds from the $1.5 million appeal will also be used to conduct a national nutritional survey, as well as train community health workers in the early detection of children and women whose nutritional health may be at risk.

"These children's lives, their ability to learn, to earn, and to lead productive lives is being stunted by this tragic crisis," said Mr. Hopkins. "These children could be leading normal lives. We must try harder to fulfil their rights."

Yesterday a senior UN humanitarian official called for urgent action by the international community to assist those in need in CAR.

"It's not like any other humanitarian situation I've run across," Catherine Bragg, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, said as she briefed reporters on her visit to the country two weeks ago.

BAN URGES LEADERS TO CONSOLIDATE PEACE IN AFRICA’S GREAT LAKES REGION

While tensions in Africa's Great Lakes region have eased in the past year, there are still serious issues to be dealt with, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on leaders there to move quickly to carry out existing peace agreements.

Addressing the third summit of heads of State and government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), taking place in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, Mr. Ban commended in particular the commitment of the leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to promote peace and stability in the region.

In a message delivered by his Special Envoy for the region, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Secretary-General welcomed last week's summit between the Presidents of the two countries, as well as the exchange of their ambassadors.

"This is no doubt a result of the collective efforts of the two countries and the region," he noted. "It is also an example of how the ICGLR can serve as an effective instrument for change."

He also highlighted the 23 March agreements between the DRC Government and armed groups in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, and appealed to all parties to pursue the full implementation of the accords.

In addition, he drew attention to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, which he described as "one of the most far-reaching agreements that the region has ever seen."

Under the Pact, which entered into force in June 2008, countries of the region committed themselves to tackling the underlying causes of the many conflicts that have raged there in recent decades and to deal with key security, governance, development, humanitarian and social issues from a regional perspective.

"It is now crucial to move from commitment to implementation," the Secretary-General said, adding that this requires strong leadership.

At the same time, Mr. Ban said the region still faces "profound" security, humanitarian, developmental and environmental challenges.

"I urge you as members of the ICGLR to make full use of this unique mechanism to quickly consolidate peace. This is, of course, an essential ingredient to sustainable development," he stated.

The core members of the ICGLR are Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), DRC, Kenya, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
________________

UN AGENCY COMMITS TO HELPING PROTECT LAND RIGHTS FOR AFRICA’S DISPLACED

The United Nations agency tasked with promoting adequate shelter for all has committed to ensuring better protection of land and property rights for people uprooted from their homes in Africa, which hosts nearly half of the total number of displaced persons worldwide.

UN-HABITAT and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week committing them to this common goal.

Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, said she hoped the new agreement will be an opportunity to "work together to mobilize resources and help the significant number of displaced persons in Africa."

The two institutions will work together to promote the creation of proper legal and institutional frameworks so that countries can be better prepared to protect the rights of displaced populations and to find durable solutions with regards to land and property issues.

In 2008 there were an estimated 11.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa, nearly half of the total number of displaced worldwide.

"The technical assistance that UN-HABITAT can provide will aid us greatly in our quest to help the huge displaced populations in the Great Lakes Region," said Liberata Mulamula, Executive Secretary of the ICGLR. "The sharing of experience and resources is going to be essential in dealing with the current situation."

The ICGLR is an institution created by Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia to implement the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region.
________________

UNICEF WELCOMES RELEASE OF ALMOST 200 CHILD SOLDIERS BY CENTRAL AFRICAN REBEL FORCE

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the release of nearly 200 child soldiers by a Central African rebel group and called for more demobilizations in the conflict-torn country.

The People's Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) has released 166 boys and 16 girls aged between 10 and 17 since April, and nearly all those child soldiers have since been reunited with their families, UNICEF said in a statement issued yesterday.

The release of the child soldiers follows the rebels' signature of a peace agreement last year and a visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) by Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

"We are extremely pleased that APRD leaders are following through with their commitment to surrender the children in their ranks," said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF's representative in Bangui, the CAR capital.

The UN agency has been working closely with the CAR Government and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to plan and coordinate the release of the children, who mostly hail from Ouham Pendé province in the north of the country.

Two transit centres were built and each released child was given a "demobilization kit" that includes clothes, sleeping mats, blankets and personal hygiene items. The former soldiers also receive medical check-ups, basic literacy and mathematics classes and counselling.

When the children return to their former communities they can participate in catch-up classes to facilitate their reintegration into regular schools, while older children can attend training programmes in such areas as animal husbandry, tailoring and carpentry.

But Mr. Mdoe stressed that the former child soldiers are usually returning to communities with limited access to basic services and few employment opportunities. Sporadic fighting continues in northern CAR, particularly near the borders with Chad and Sudan.

"Reintegration is a long and often difficult process in any circumstance, and the prevailing climate of insecurity adds to the challenges," he said. "We need to keep up our assistance to these communities if we want the demobilization programme to succeed."

UNICEF is calling for an additional $1 million to ensure that the demobilization and reintegration of the child soldiers can continue.
________________

HAVE MEDIATION SKILLS, WILL TRAVEL: UN’S ROAMING MEDIATION TEAM TERMED A SUCCESS

The United Nations special on-call mediation team has helped respond to sticky problems all over the globe in their first year – and should do more, according to a top official at the world body.

So far, the Standby Team of Mediation Experts, established last year to help the UN respond more quickly to crises, has been asked to help with the Organization's peacemaking and preventive diplomacy in nine areas in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, said Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios.

"Responding effectively to peacemaking opportunities depends on getting to the field quickly with the right kind of expertise," said Mr. Menkerios. "The Standby Team is helping us to do just that."

The six-member team "should be used more widely as a resource by envoys in the field," he said at a luncheon honouring departing members of the team who serve one year terms.

During its first 15 months, the Team has helped in Kenya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, Cyprus, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal and Somalia. The experts have also facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and their clients have included not just UN political envoys, but also peacekeeping missions, UN Resident Coordinators and the African Union (AU).

The Norwegian Government funded the initial 15 month-pilot phase of the Standby Team and has agreed to provide continued financing.
________________

NEWSMAKER: RIGHTS ABUSERS MUST BE STOPPED, STARTING AT THE TOP – ICC PROSECUTOR

NEWSMAKER: RIGHTS ABUSERS MUST BE STOPPED, STARTING AT THE TOP – ICC PROSECUTOR
New York, Jun 5 2009 6:00PM
Holding leaders accountable for human rights abuses can take time, but they must face justice, according to Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who has made a career of going after top officials, starting in his native Argentina and more recently in The Hague as Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (<"http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC?lan=en-GB">ICC).

As a young lawyer, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo was appointed Deputy Prosecutor in the military junta trials against Argentinean generals and other authorities accused of human rights crimes during the so-called "dirty war" years from 1976 to 1983, when thousands disappeared.

"The first case was against some of the top commanders of the junta, including the former president, so we started right at the top," he said in an interview with the UN News Centre, as part of its <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/newsmakers.asp?NewsID=13">Newsmaker profile series.

Nine senior commanders, including three former heads of State, were indicted during the trials, and five were convicted.

Initially, the country was not behind the prosecution of its former leaders, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo recalled, noting that even his own mother criticised the proceedings.

"I could not convince my own mother, so it was not easy. But when the trial started, the most interesting lesson I learned was that the trial educated the entire population," he said. "In fact, my mother called me two weeks after the trial started and said 'you were right, I was wrong.'"

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo thought prosecuting the junta trials, at the age of 32, was the peak of his career. But that was until he received a call from the ICC six years ago.

"The job was an extremely exciting opportunity. I think it's the most fascinating legal institution ever created," he said of the Court, set up by the 1998 Rome Statute to help end impunity for the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

As Prosecutor, he has opened investigations in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as well as in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region.

As he had during the junta trials in Argentina, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo again went after those alleged to have sent out orders to commit some of the worst atrocities imaginable, the most high-profile being Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.

"I focused on the top people. Because of my experience in Argentina I knew we could not prosecute middle- ranking officers, which made our lives more difficult," he said.

"The most important issue is to prove that what happened in Darfur is a massive campaign against the civilians orchestrated by the top leader of the country, because that has important consequences."

In March, ICC judges issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Al-Bashir, the first sitting head of State to be indicted by the Court, for alleged war crimes committed in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have died and another 3 million have been displaced by fighting since 2003 between rebels and government forces and their allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed.

The Sudanese President has been indicted on two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity, but the ICC pre-trial chamber found there was insufficient evidence to charge him with genocide, noting that if the prosecution presents additional evidence the warrant could be amended at a later date.

"The important thing is for the international community to send a strong message that this cannot happen, a head of State cannot commit crimes against his own citizens, and he has to be stopped," stressed the Prosecutor. "Omar Al-Bashir has to face the Court."

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo stressed this point again as he updated the Security Council today on his investigations into crimes in Darfur.

"International experiences as the case of Slobodan Milosevic and Charles Taylor, or national experiences, tell us that the implementation of a judicial decision against a head of State is a process that can take time, months or years," he told the 15-member body.

"In the end, however, they all faced justice."

To date, six of the 13 men indicted by the ICC are still at large, including Mr. Al-Bashir. One has been confirmed dead and another suspected to have died, while four are in custody awaiting trial in The Hague.
________________

UN LACKS MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF FUNDS SOUGHT TO AID CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA

UN LACKS MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF FUNDS SOUGHT TO AID CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA
New York, May 15 2009 6:00PM
Only 27 per cent of the funds needed to support relief efforts in Central and East Africa have been donated, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) reported today.

The Consolidated Appeals Process (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/humanitarianappeal/webpage.asp?Page=1243">CAP) was launched in November to raise almost $5.3 million to respond to crises in seven African countries: Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

As of 1 April, contributions to the appeal stood at just over $1.4 million for support to a region which has some of the greatest humanitarian needs in the world, according to OCHA.

The Office noted that only 2 per cent – or $3.9 million – of the more than $225 million required for Uganda is available. By contrast, the appeal for Chad has received almost $134 million or 35 per cent of the nearly $387 million it requires, the highest of the seven countries.

The overall aid bill for 2009 is expected to go way beyond the $7 billion requested for all humanitarian crises around the world, since the CAP does not include the so-called "flash appeals" which are launched throughout the year to meet the needs of new emergencies.
________________

GHANAIAN TROOPS JOIN UN MISSION IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

GHANAIAN TROOPS JOIN UN MISSION IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, May 14 2009 12:00PM
Over 100 Ghanaian soldiers have joined the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the war-ravaged nations of Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), it was announced today.

In a move welcomed by the mission, known as MINURCAT, 131 Ghanaian troops are in transit and will replace departing forces in the Farchana area of eastern Chad.

They will join 71 Ghanaian blue helmets deployed to <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT last March, and at full strength, the mission will include 800 peacekeepers from Ghana.

In September 2007, the Security Council approved the establishment in Chad and CAR, in concert with the European Union (EU), of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union (EU) military forces, to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

On 15 March, UN peacekeepers took over the military and security responsibilities of EUFOR after the Council approved the deployment of an additional 5,500 blue helmets to serve with MINURCAT. However, deployment currently stands at half that level.

Eastern Chad faces an acute humanitarian challenge, with over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care.

Northern CAR has also been affected by a spill-over from Darfur as well as by displacement resulting from other armed conflicts.
________________

FLEXIBILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, KNOWLEDGE KEY TO MEDIATING CONFLICTS – UN OFFICIAL

To boost its ability to prevent and limit bloodshed, the United Nations must have flexible funding, regional partnerships and accessible information for mediation, the Organization's political chief said today.

"Mediation is a Charter activity of the United Nations and must be carried out with the highest degree of professionalism, transparency and preparation to promote peace and security," B. Lynne Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs told the Security Council at the start of an open debate for which some 40 speakers were inscribed.

In a recent report, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the world body's mediation capacity has been hampered by a limited number of experienced mediators and a lack of sufficient financial resources.

In his presentation, Mr. Pascoe described recent efforts of his Department of Political Affairs (DPA) to put in place the expertise, financial resources partnerships and knowledge-base needed to reverse that situation.

"These are part of a conscious effort to reshape the Department of Political Affairs into a more action- and field-oriented operation that can move more quickly and at an earlier stage to help prevent conflicts from spreading and to deliver faster and more reliable support to peace processes," he said.

In that context, he underlined the strengthening of Regional Divisions and the creation of a Mediation Support Unit (MSU), which had been complemented by a standby team of mediation experts, ready to deploy to negotiations around the world.

As a consequence, DPA had recently provided mediation support to over 20 peace processes, including reconciliation talks in Somalia that led up to the October 2008 Djibouti Agreement and national political dialogue in the Central African Republic (CAR).

It also deployed facilitators for discussions on technical issues in the ongoing Cyprus talks, including property and power-sharing matters, and is supporting Mr. Ban's representative in Nepal in implementation of the peace agreement there, Mr. Pascoe said.

In Iraq, DPA is supporting the Special Representative with mediation expertise on internal boundaries, Kirkuk, water-sharing and the constitution, and has supported peacekeeping missions in Darfur and Kosovo, among others, in mediation efforts.

Flexible funding in all these efforts is crucial, he said, noting that the establishment of a mediation start-up budget, funded by donors, has allowed mediation teams and envoys to be sent recently to Madagascar, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Department was increasing its partnership with regional organizations such as the African and European Unions, and looked forward to working together more, sharing expertise, developing joint training opportunities and creating a geographically diverse roster of mediation experts.

It will need to work closely with partners, he said, to further develop a web-based repository of information on mediation called "UN Peacemaker," which already has over 800 documents, more than 300 peace agreements and 15 operational guidance notes, with another 22 in development.
________________

SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS END TO VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

The United Nations Security Council today demanded an end to violence by armed groups terrorizing the northern Central African Republic (CAR) and called for all parties in the country to abide by the results of a recent national dialogue.

The 15-member body also endorsed a plan by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish a new, integrated UN unit in the landlocked nation to replace the UN peacebuilding office there known as BONUCA, according to a statement read out by Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the rotating Council presidency for the month.

Through the statement, the Council called on all armed groups to immediately end recruitment and use of child soldiers, and stressed the urgency of carrying out a process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of other fighters.

Mr. Ban's recommended tasks for the new UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office (BINUCA) include assistance for elections, government reforms and demobilization efforts, along with the facilitation of continued national dialogue.

The Council called a recent multi-stakeholder dialogue, held in the capital Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008, "an effective framework to foster national reconciliation and stability."

Last month, François Lonsény Fall, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, told the Council that the talks were a result of two years of "tremendous effort" by various actors, both national – including representatives of the Government, opposition and civil society – and international.

At the end of the 12-day dialogue, he said, several agreements had been reached, including the establishment of a broad-based government, a commitment to hold municipal, legislative and presidential elections in 2009 and 2010, and the setting up of an independent electoral commission.

In today's statement, the Council called on the Government and all political stakeholders to ensure timely, effective and transparent preparations for those elections.

Despite the agreements, however, fighting this year in north-west of the CAR between Government troops and an emerging rebel force, known as the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), have led some 6,400 people to escape into the bush, while over 9,000 others have fled across the border to Chad.

In the past ten years, over 300,000 people have been displaced by violence in the country.

While efforts are under way to help the internally displaced persons (IDPs), Government forces have limited humanitarian workers from gaining access to those in need several times in recent months, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
________________

CHAD: UN REGISTERS OVER 5,000 CENTRAL AFRICANS UPROOTED BY VIOLENCE

CHAD: UN REGISTERS OVER 5,000 CENTRAL AFRICANS UPROOTED BY VIOLENCE
New York, Mar 18 2009 6:00PM

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has registered more than 5,200 refugees in Chad who fled intensified fighting between Government forces and rebels in the north of their native Central African Republic (CAR) last December.

These refugees are sheltering in the village of Daha in south-eastern Chad, roughly one kilometre from the border with the CAR.

UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) have distributed food to refugees this week, marking the second time they have received rations since their arrival in Chad.

Over 100 children have been enrolled at the local school and classes have started in two new facilities built by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which has also trained teachers.

In addition, the agency has begun handing out high-protein biscuits to all children in the two camps in Daha, while it has begun constructing five wells for both refugees and the host population.

Due to wide-spread fighting and armed banditry in recent years in the CAR, some 200,000 Central Africans have been either internally displaced by the violence or forced to live as refugees in neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.
________________

CHAD: BLAZES RIP THROUGH SUDANESE REFUGEE CAMPS

CHAD: BLAZES RIP THROUGH SUDANESE REFUGEE CAMPS
New York, Mar 17 2009 11:00AM

The United Nations refugee agency said today it was hastening to replace supplies and put preventive measures in place after five accidental fires swept through two camps for Sudanese refugees in remote eastern Chad in the past four weeks.

A 9-year old boy died and some 1,455 people were left homeless in the Amer and Djabal camps, due to the fires, which were caused by poorly tended open fires fanned by heavy winds, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today.

"Despite repeated fires in the camps in 2007-08, refugees remain reluctant to construct their shelters with more fire-resistant mud bricks, preferring instead traditional sticks and straw which are tinder dry," UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond said in Geneva today.

After each fire, UNHCR staff in the two camps immediately distributed family tents and other household items, including plastic sheeting, mats, blankets, jerry cans and kitchen sets to those affected, he said.

"We continue to stress the need for caution with open cooking fires and are encouraging refugees to build their shelters with more durable materials like mud bricks," Mr. Redmond said.

He added that UNHCR is seeking an additional $350,000 to carry out a durable shelter strategy in 2009 that will entail fitting the houses of some 1,660 vulnerable families with durable roofing materials not as prone to fire.

A total of 250,000 Sudanese refugees from the strife-torn Darfur region are hosted in 12 UNHCR-administered refugee camps in eastern Chad, and other 60,000 refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) are in five UNHCR-assisted sites in the south of the country.
________________

BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

BLUE HELMETS TAKE OVER FROM EUROPEAN FORCE IN CHAD, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
New York, Mar 15 2009 1:00PM

United Nations peacekeepers in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) today took over the military and security responsibilities of European forces in the two strife-torn nations.

Today's transfer, which took place at midnight local time, was marked by a ceremony, attended by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, held in the Chadian city of Abéché, where MINURCAT's headquarters are located.

In January, the Security Council approved the deployment of over 5,500 blue helmets, 300 police officers, 25 military liaison officers and 5,200 military personnel with the UN mission (MINURCAT) to replace the European troops (EUFOR), which has been in place since March 2008.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended EUFOR for the key role it has played in bolstering security for internally displaced pe
rsons (IDPs), refugees and other vulnerable groups in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR.

"As MINURCAT assumes its new responsibilities, the Secretary-General is confident that the force will build upon and strengthen EUFOR's military achievements while continuing to execute the full range of its mandated tasks, including to contribute to the promotion of human rights and the rule of law and to support the development of the Chadian community police (Détachement Intégré de Sécurité) deployed in eastern Chad," the statement added.

Eastern Chad faces an acute humanitarian challenge with over 290,000 Sudanese refugees from the Darfur war, more than 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a further 700,000 individuals among host communities in need of food, water and health care. Northern CAR has also been affected by a spill-over from the Darfur conflict as well as by other armed groups.

In its January resolution, the Security Council stressed that the multidimensional pres
ence in Chad and military presence in the CAR is intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons, by boosting security protection, facilitating the provision of humanitarian aid, and promoting reconstruction and economic and social development.

The resolution empowers MINURCAT to "take all necessary measures, within its capabilities" to contribute to protecting civilians in danger, particularly refugees and IDPs, facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of humanitarian personnel, and protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment.

Mr. Ban also said today that he is "grateful" for several EUFOR contributors' and new troop contributing countries' commitments to the UN force, and encouraged Member States to continue filling remaining gaps to ensure that MINURCAT is equipped to execute its mandate.

Currently, the Mission is composed of some 300 uniformed pers
onnel, mostly police, plus some 325 international civilians.

"In order to succeed, MINURCAT will need the active support of the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic," the Secretary-General said, adding that he is grateful to both Governments for "their cooperation during the transition period and looks forward to working with them in the implementation of MINURCAT's mandate."

In September 2007, the Council approved the establishment in Chad and CAR, in concert with the European Union (EU), of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including European Union (EU) military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

________________

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: INCLUSIVE TALKS COULD LEAD TO PEACE CONSOLIDATION – UN

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: INCLUSIVE TALKS COULD LEAD TO PEACE CONSOLIDATION – UN
New York, Mar 10 2009 6:00PM

Recent long-awaited multi-party talks in the Central African Republic (CAR) have provided a window of opportunity to make strides towards consolidating peace in the land-locked nation, a top United Nations envoy told the Security Council today.

François Lonsény Fall, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, said that last December's successful talks held in the capital, Bangui, were a result of two years of "tremendous effort" by various actors, both national – including representatives of the Government, opposition and civil society – and international.

Three committees have been established in the areas of politics and governance; security and armed groups; and socio-economic questions, he said in his last briefing to the Council in his current position.

The first committee has "had to deal with the most contentious issues," such as the legitimacy of the current regime and the country's governance, Mr. Fall said.

At the end of the 12-day dialogue, he told the Council, several agreements had been reached, including the establishment of a broad-based government, a commitment to hold elections in 2009 and 2010, and the setting up of an independent electoral commission.

The security committee, for its part, has dealt with the issues of implementing security sector reform, restructuring the national armed forces and combating the proliferation of small arms, the envoy said, while the socio-economic committee is focusing on putting into place a poverty reduction strategy, reforming public finances and reforming the management of national resources.

Mr. Fall briefed the Council on the deterioration of the security situation in northern CAR, where rebel groups and a spill-over of violence from the Darfur war in neighbouring Sudan have driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. He said there has been intense fighting and "some very daring attacks" against government institutions and military installations in some areas.

But in spite of the setbacks, he stressed that the December inclusive dialogue has provided an occasion to bring stability to the country, which has been beset by widespread fighting and armed banditry in recent years, with some 200,000 Central Africans have been either internally displaced by the fighting or forced to live as refugees in neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.

The Representative said that CAR leaders have "underlined the need to obtain support from the international community at the same time as they try to implement the foundations of the dialogue."

Last June, the Government struck an agreement with the rebel groups known as the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) after talks in Libreville, Gabon, facilitated by that country's President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Also in June 2008, the CAR became the fourth country to be placed on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission, which aims to help States emerging from conflict to avoid the slide back into war or chaos.

A report issued by the Commission's mission that visited the country last autumn stressed that without concrete and substantive progress in inclusive political dialogue, efforts to achieve improvement in security, rule of law and development remained stalled in a country that is beset by unrest, widespread displacement and entrenched poverty.

"There is also a general awareness that progress has to be simultaneous on all three fronts," said the publication, released in January.
________________

Morgan Tsvangirai's Wife Susan is Killed in a Car Crash

Susan Tsvangirai was killed today in a car crash whilst traveling with her husband who also sustained minor injuries in the accident on the way to their home south of Harare. By all accounts her death will be a great loss to her husband, children and people of Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe and his wife have been to visit him in hospital. It can only be hoped that this was not a case of fowl play for the sake of peace and stability in the country.