Civilians need better UN protection, NGO says

The UN could be more effective in protecting civilians in armed conflicts, the humanitarian director of OXFAM UK, Paul Smith-Lomas, told a news conference at UN headquarters on Wednesday. Also present were James Orbinski, the president of MSF International Council and Guy Tousignant, secretary-general of CARE, the UN said in a news release. They had earlier briefed the UN Security Council under the Arria Formula, a special informal arrangement that allows the council to hear from experts on international peace and security issues. Speaking about OXFAM's experiences in Sierra Leone, Smith Lomas said that UN efforts could be made more effective if the world body increased support for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process giving UNAMSIL a stronger mandate and by being more aggressive in stopping the illegal trade in arms and diamonds. He expressed support for the UNs focus on protection of civilians in armed conflict as a global priority but added that "there was need for a change in protection of people's lives on the ground in real life situations".