UN FOOD AGENCY ANXIOUS OVER POSSIBLE VIOLENT REPRISALS IN SOUTHERN SUDANn

The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/news">WFP) today expressed fears of a wave of deadly retaliatory attacks on the heels of the massacre of more than 100 people in southern Sudan earlier over the weekend.

"WFP and its partners have called on the Government to put an end to inter-tribal fighting, which is endangering the delivery of humanitarian aid," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

Yesterday, the Security Council condemned the "grave attacks" in Akobo in Jonglei state that killed at least 185 people, including over 100 women and children. At least 60 people from the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) were also reported dead as a result of the attacks, which took place on Sunday.

Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said the attacks were especially concerning given that they seemed to target women and children and involved the use of sophisticated weaponry.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4006">statement issued earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern at the latest "heinous" surge in violence in southern Sudan, the scene of one of Africa's longest and bloodiest civil wars.

At least 2 million people were killed, 4 million others uprooted and 600,000 more fled across the borders until a peace agreement in 2005 ended the 20 years of fighting between southern separatists and the national Government in the north.

A referendum on independence for the south is expected to be held in 2011, following national elections next year.

More recently, violence has flared periodically from various quarters, with some 700 people have been killed since March in the region while another 19,000 have been uprooted, Ms. Okabe said today.

The Secretary-General warned last month that escalating inter-tribal fighting was jeopardizing the stability of the entire country and putting at risk key milestones in implementing the 2005 pact, known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Attacks by the notorious Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), have also wrought havoc in border regions in the south.

TOP UN ENVOY URGES RESTRAINT AFTER RECENT INCIDENTS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

A top United Nations official has called for restraint following recent incidents in southern Lebanon, including the wounding of several of the world body's peacekeepers during an investigation into an explosion at an arms cache last week.

Fourteen soldiers serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were reportedly injured, and some UN vehicles damaged, on Saturday when protesters tried to stop the investigation in the area of Khirbat Silim.

"We really need now to lower the temperature, to try and address the issues and not see any escalation which would be bad for 1701 and for Lebanon," Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said following his meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

Security Council resolution 1701, which helped to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah, called for renewed respect for the Blue Line separating the Lebanese forces and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the disarming of militias and an end to arms smuggling, among other elements.

Last week UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters that the incident of the explosions constitutes a serious violation of resolution 1701, notably with regards to the provision that there should be no presence of unauthorized assets or weapons in the area of operation between the Litani River and the Blue Line.

"Clearly there were violations of 1701," said Mr. Williams, who discussed the incidents in a series of meetings over the past two days with senior Lebanese officials. In addition to Mr. Siniora, he also met with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, and with Assembly Speaker Nabih Berri.

After his meeting with Mr. Hariri, the Special Coordinator stated, "Any resolution from time to time faces many tests and challenges. There have been some testing incidents in recent days.

"I take this opportunity to call on all parties to renew their commitment and to exercise the utmost restraint."

Mr. Williams also called again on Israel to put an end to its air violations of the Blue Line, which he said Lebanon is subject to "on a daily basis."
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BENIN: UN AGENCIES INCREASE ASSISTANCE IN WAKE OF FLOODS

United Nations humanitarian agencies have stepped up their relief efforts in the West African country of Benin, where more than 20,000 people have been displaced or affected and numerous farms destroyed by floods.

Mosquito nets, water purification tablets, blankets, tents and mats are being distributed and assistance is being provided with water and sanitation and with maternal health care in the wake of the floods.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing 3,000 chlorine tablets for water treatment and 1,000 mosquito nets, and is also funding a health awareness campaign and water and sanitation activities, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told journalists today.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also donated blankets, nets, mats and tents, while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) plans to spend up to $100,000 on health care.

A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is in the country to help local authorities deal with the floods, which follow some of the heaviest rainfall in Benin – beset by floods every wet season – in recent years. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is also spending $100,000 to coordinate the overall relief effort.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was also monitoring the situation, particularly to ensure that widespread outbreaks of meningitis do not occur.

The bands of rain have moved northwards across Benin in recent days, with flood waters subsiding in the southern cities of Cotonou and Porto Novo and heavy rains and high rains in the north.
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TOP UN ENVOY CALLS FOR NATIONAL REFORMS IN DR CONGO

TOP UN ENVOY CALLS FOR NATIONAL REFORMS IN DR CONGO
New York, May 26 2009 4:00PM
The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has called for swift implementation of "reforms of the state services" to fight poverty and corruption.

In a keynote address to a major civil society gathering yesterday in the capital, Kinshasa, Alan Doss offered UN support for the reforms, without which, he said, the fight against poverty would be hampered.

Mr. Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (<"http://monuc.unmissions.org/">MONUC), asked the participants to come up with a workable strategy.

"Your ideas to consolidate peace, to end impunity, ensure the democratic electoral processes, and support reforms in institutions and governance practices will be critical," he said.

In a related development, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York that MONUC peacekeepers had deployed over the weekend to a village near the north-eastern town of Dungu where the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) killed one person, wounded 20 others, and burned some 20 huts.

Last Friday in the Bukavu area, a peacekeeping patrol exchanged fire with a group of Rwandan rebels after the rebels attacked a bus at a roadblock, she said.

Meanwhile, MONUC also reported that it is providing logistical assistance to Congolese judicial authorities in the trial of Mai Mai militiamen charged with mass rapes and torture.

The trial opened two days ago in a regional court in Province Orientale. The mission says it provided helicopters to help get judicial personnel to the remote area, some 290 miles from the provincial hub of Kisangani. UN human rights experts will also be monitoring the proceedings, MONUC said.

Thirty-four Mai Mai fighters are on trial for a spree of sexual violence, including the alleged rape of more than 135 women and children in July 2007.
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BAN ARRIVES IN SRI LANKA FOR FIRST-HAND LOOK AT POST-CONFLICT SITUATION

BAN ARRIVES IN SRI LANKA FOR FIRST-HAND LOOK AT POST-CONFLICT SITUATION
New York, May 22 2009 4:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Sri Lanka days after the Government declared that its military operation against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has ended.

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters today that, during his visit, Mr. Ban seeks to further progress in three key areas: immediate humanitarian relief; reintegration and reconstruction; and an equitable political solution.

Earlier today, his Chief of Staff, Vijay Nambiar, who has been in the country for several days, voiced hope that "the Secretary-General's visit can help begin a process of national recovery, renewal and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans."

Mr. Nambiar told reporters in the capital, Colombo, that the national reconciliation process must be "all-inclusive" and address the legitimate aspirations of Tamils and other minorities.

"It is important that victory becomes a victory for all Sri Lankans," he added.

Over the past week, Mr. Nambiar has visited camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Menik farm in the country's north, where fighting raged between the Government and LTTE, as well as taking a helicopter ride over the former conflict zone.

The official said he also held meetings with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, other senior officials, diplomats, representatives of humanitarian agencies and political leaders, including Tamil members of Parliament.

During his two-day visit to the South Asian island nation, the Secretary-General will also visit IDP camps and, weather permitting, fly over the area of conflict.

Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) said that, according to the Sri Lankan Government, all of those forced to flee their homes have left the conflict zone and have gone through transit points. It has put the total number of uprooted people in camps at 272,000, out of which 251,000 are in Vavuniya.
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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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SRI LANKA: TENS OF THOUSANDS STILL TRAPPED IN SHRINKING COMBAT ZONE, UN SAYS

The United Nations voiced deep concern today over the safety of tens of thousands of civilians trapped in a shrinking pocket of land on Sri Lanka's north-east coast where fighting rages between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The situation in the area is chaotic and reliable information is difficult to obtain, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense, over 60,000 civilians fled the area since 20 April, with nearly 83,000 leaving between October 2008 and April 2009. More than 81,000 are now accommodated in camps.

"While there are no verifiable numbers of overall casualties, we believe that significant numbers have been killed and injured in the military operation," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters.

Delivering aid to those trapped in the combat area remained shipment remains difficult as well. Some 1,200 metric tonnes of humanitarian assistance, which was due to embark for the area on 19 April could not leave due to the fighting, according to OCHA. No assistance has been delivered to the conflict area since 1 April.

In addition, available stocks of non-food items to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled to the Vavuniya district will soon be exhausted because of the large influx of new arrivals.

In response to influx, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said today that it was providing some 25,000 hygiene packs for women and girls to meet the needs of the large number of IDPs.

In addition, the agency said that it has provided over 20 beds to furnish the proposed post-natal care unit at a hospital in Vavuniya.

Along with other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, UNFPA voiced deep concern over the plight of tens of thousands of civilians unable to flee the fighting.

"Women and girls have unique needs," said agency representative Lene K. Christiansen. "UNFPA is working with government and non-governmental partners to ensure that these needs are not overlooked in the current crisis."
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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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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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DARFUR: UN-AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOT, AS CONCERN GROWS OVER HUMANITARIAN AID

DARFUR: UN-AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOT, AS CONCERN GROWS OVER HUMANITARIAN AID
New York, Mar 10 2009 4:00PM

Four peacekeepers were shot and wounded in an attack yesterday on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as concern grew over the safety of aid workers who have been ordered to leave the region following the indictment of the Sudanese president.

In yesterday's incident, a UNAMID patrol returning to its base in El Geneina, West Darfur was attacked by unknown armed men who fired at the vehicle with small arms.

The injured personnel, one of them seriously hurt, were evacuated by helicopter to the Mission's hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur, where their conditions were listed as stable and not life-threatening.

Violence against UNAMID personnel and banditry have increased over the past six weeks in West Darfur, and the number of incidents until now in 2009 have exceeded those for the entirety of 2008, a UN spokesperson said today.

Yesterday alone, beside the attack on the patrol, a UNAMID vehicle was carjacked in El Fasher, and military observers en route to a team site in El Daein were shot at.

"UNAMID strongly condemns these acts of violence against its peacekeepers who are in Darfur to help bring peace and stability to the region and for the benefit of the population," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said in New York.

Meanwhile, during the past 24 hours, UNAMID said it continued to patrol Darfur to protect civilians, conducting some 47 military patrols and 96 police patrols in and around villages and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

On the humanitarian front, Ms. Okabe said that the United Nations remains highly concerned over the safety of national and international staff in light of repeated reports of intimidation and seizure of property.

Sudan decided to begin ejecting 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Wednesday, immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

"Despite assurances given by the Sudanese Government that harassment and seizure of assets would stop, such reports continued to be received daily," Ms. Okabe said, citing a report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Assets confiscated from the organizations include computers, vehicles and communications equipment, as well as essential data, she said.

There have been no further revocations of permission to work, according to OCHA, which warned, however, that the rainy season was now coming up and the country would soon be split in two due to the rains, so it was urgent to pre-position food and other vital supplies in the areas they were needed as soon as possible.

Because of the ejections of the NGOs, some 1.5 million people are now at risk in terms of health, OCHA warned, saying that an estimated 1.2 million people risked having no more access to potable water and hygiene programmes in the weeks to come.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it is currently working 24 hours a day with its UN partners and its technical partners in the various ministries, but it could not make up for the missing NGOs.

The World Food Programme (WFP), meanwhile, says that four of the expelled non-governmental organizations were crucial partners who were providing 35 per cent of its food distribution capacity in Darfur, distributing food to 1.1 million people plus 5,500 malnourished children and mothers receiving supplementary feeding.

To fill the gap left by the NGOs, the agency was planning a one-time distribution of enough food for two months through local food relief committees.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned more than 1.5 million persons would no longer have access to primary healthcare, and that immunizations would be disrupted, with the greatest threat being an outbreak of meningitis reported in the Kalma Camp that currently houses 89 000 people.

The UN and the Sudanese Government have agreed meanwhile that three joint teams, composed of experts from both sides, would visit Darfur to conduct an assessment of critical short-term needs in four sectors: food, nutrition, water, and emergency shelter.

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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