Scale up peacekeeping in Darfur, agencies urge

Aid workers and officials are calling for a scaling-up in peacekeeping efforts in Sudan's western Darfur region.

“Darfur may appear calmer, but one has to remember that there are fewer reports coming out because they are deeply nervous of how the Sudanese government will react to criticism,” said one international aid worker, who has spent more than two years in Darfur.

The joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, continues to be hampered by both government restrictions and lack of vital equipment. Despite recent improvements in general security, people continue to struggle under what activists in the region describe as a "worsening situation".

A coalition of 22 NGOs warned on 29 July that more support was needed to ensure peacekeepers were able to protect civilians.

UNAMID "has failed at many critical junctures due to lagging support from the international community and continued obstruction by the Sudanese government", the NGOs said in a joint statement.

The NGOs, which include the Save Darfur Coalition, said: "UNAMID currently lacks the resources to fulfil its civilian protection mandate, and is therefore unable to carry out its most important obligation.

"For instance, helicopters that are needed for transport remain undelivered, and the Sudanese government continues to impede the mission’s effectiveness."

The lack of "critical assets" was echoed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has also called for "political will" to secure 18 more helicopters and other key equipment.

"I have been discussing this issue with almost all the leaders of the countries who, I thought, would be able to provide, or would have some capacity to provide, helicopters, but I have not been able to get this support,” Ban said on 29 July.

Photo: OCHA

UNAMID's one-year mandate expires on 31 July but it is expected to be extended by the UN Security Council for another year.

The US has called on the Northern government to allow more humanitarian workers into Darfur and fill worrying gaps in aid - and step up cooperation with peacekeepers.

Pressure increased on humanitarian workers following the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March for President Omar el-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

The Northern government reacted by expelling 13 key aid agencies, accusing them of supplying the ICC with information. The move has increased pressure on remaining agencies.

"Fill the gaps"

Read more

Kidnapped aid workers

"We continue to urge Khartoum to fill the gaps in critical humanitarian aid and to improve its cooperation with UNAMID," Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN, said on 29 July.

But the government has dismissed the claims, arguing that the situation had improved in Darfur.

“The current humanitarian and security situation in Darfur is better than before,” said presidential adviser Ghazi Salahuddin after a meeting with UNAMID head Rodolphe Adada, quoted by the Sudan's official SUNA news agency.

But others argue that an apparently softer approach by US Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration – who has largely focused recent efforts on north-south relations over the disputed oil rich region of Abyei – has freed Khartoum's hand in Darfur.

John Prendergast, of the Washington-based Enough Project, warned US President Barack Obama's administration that a tougher line was needed in relations with Khartoum.

“The Obama administration has resolutely worked to craft more formidable international coalitions to isolate North Korea and Iran for important US policy objectives,” he said in press statements released 30 July.

“However, the US is not doing the same for Sudan, despite the existence of a regime there that is responsible directly or indirectly for the loss of 2.5 million lives in the South and Darfur.”

str/js/mw