DARFUR: UNAMID chief visits Jabal Marra, asked to act against aerial attacks
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March 18, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A delegation of the UN-AU hybrid
peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNMID) on Friday managed to visit two
areas in the sparsely-accessed, mountainous terrain of Jabal Marra in
the troubled western region of Sudan, the mission has announced.
JPEG - 34.1 kb
Villagers at the rebel controlled Fanga Suk, east Jebel Marra in west
Darfur hold up banners saying "No No to aerial bombing" "Where is
Gambari?" during the visit of the JSR to their village on March 18,
2011. (Photo UNAMID)
Darfur region has been under an armed conflict that killed more than
300, 000 people and displaced 2.7 million since it erupted in 2003
between the Sudanese government and rebel groups accusing it of
marginalizing the region.
UNAMID, which was established by the UN Security Council in 2007 to
conduct peacekeeping in the region, has had a history of failing to
access the area of Jabal Marra or investigate attacks there due to
continued fighting in the area and restrictions by the Sudanese
government.
The Joint Special Representative, Ibrahim Gambari, led a delegation
comprising the mission’s Force Commander Lt Gen Patrick Nyamvumba and
Head of the regional UNICEF office Ismail Olushola among other top
mission officials on a field visit to two areas in eastern Jabal
Marra.
Those are Jawa, which is located 9km west of Deribat in South Darfur,
and Fanga Suk, which lies 60 km southwest of Tawilla in West Darfur.
The areas are the respective strongholds of Sudan’s army and a clutch
of armed groups including the Sudan Liberation Movement’s factions of
Abdul Wahid Nur and Minni Arkoi Minnawi as well as the Justice and
Liberation Movement, as reported by the mission.
Jabal Marra has long been the epicenter of fierce battles between the
government and rebel groups, especially between February and March
2010. Fighting forced many international aid groups to vacate the
area, leaving as many as 100, 000 civilians affected by the conflict.
In February 2010, Sudanese authorities expelled the French NGO
Médecins du Monde (MDM) from Jabal Marra where it was the only aid
group allowed to operate in the rebel-controlled territory.
Gambari was able to meet with community leaders at both Jawa and Fanga
Suk, saying that many of them many shared grievances and pleaded for
the urgent provision of water, food, health, education and other basic
services.
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Ibrahim Gambari (R) visits Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra
(West Darfur), 88 km from Tawilla March 18, 2011. (Rueters)
UNAMID reported that residents in Fanga Suk implored the JSR to
redouble appeals on their behalf for the cessation of aerial strikes.
The head of the hybrid mission urged both parties to provide full
support to UNAMID patrols and activities in the East Jebel Marra area,
saying this would enhance the Mission’s protection to civilians,
facilitating and securing humanitarian access.
UNAMID, the world’s largest UN-funded peacekeeping mission, has
repeatedly come under attack for failure to discharge its robust
mandate. The mission’s operation has been greatly obstructed by the
restrictions imposed on its movement by the Khartoum government.
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