AFRICAN UNION-UN PEACEKEEPERS IN DARFUR PRESENT FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur has provided a financial boost of almost $250,000 for the construction of classrooms, toilets and water pumps in the violence-ridden region of Sudan.

Henry Anyidoho, Deputy Joint Special Representative of the AU-UN mission (UNAMID), presented the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) funding, which will also cover the construction of an x-ray wing for a local hospital, to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday on his visit to South Darfur.

The visit took in the Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), where a school has been built with the QIPs funding.

Mr. Anyidoho inspected progress on work carried out by the UNAMID Chinese engineering company – including the construction of two water dams – following recent heavy flooding in the makeshift camp.

At the IDP camp, he met with sheikhs and other traditional leaders to discuss the living conditions and heard complaints over the absence of basic necessities for survival, such as food and water, amenities and social services.

The camp leaders also raised concerns over the ongoing operation of armed militias in the area, land occupation, guarantees of collective and individual compensation for IDPs and bringing to justice those accused of war crimes among other issues.

Meanwhile, UNAMID has reported that the security situation in Darfur is relatively calm except for some minor banditry and car-jacking in North Darfur.

The mission was also informed yesterday that chief Umda of Abu Shouk IDP camp and his wife had been shot by unknown armed men at their house near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. UNAMID military and police are monitoring the situation in the camp and Sudanese Government police are investigating the incidence.
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EGYPT MAKING PROGRESS IN WATER, SANITATION – UN RIGHTS EXPERT

Egypt has made great strides in improving access to drinking water and is well-situated to address remaining challenges related to water and sanitation, a United Nations independent human rights expert said today.

"The level of political and financial commitment to tackle these complicated issues is to be commended," said Catarina de Albuquerque, the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, as she wrapped up an eight-day visit to Egypt today.

As a result of the Government's "good experience" in these areas in recent years, she said, authorities are better prepared to address obstacles, including extending access to sanitation, ensuring that the poorest can afford their drinking water, improving the quality of drinking water in more isolated and poorer areas and narrowing the gap between rural and urban as well as between formal and informal dwellings.

Among other successful initiatives, the Government, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partners have set up a revolving fund to help the poor access clean water and sanitation through loans that can be paid back in instalments, Ms. de Albuquerque said.

"I saw that this practice has a decisive impact on the daily lives of the people concerned, especially for women and children," she added.

Such achievements in Egypt must be recognized, the expert stressed. "That it considers access to drinking water and sanitation a right for all its people is already to Egypt's credit."

Ms. de Albuquerque was appointed as a UN Independent Expert in September 2008, and reports to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council in an unpaid capacity.
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