UN delegation flies to Darfur
2008-06-05 09:54
Khartoum - The United Nations Security Council was to fly to Darfur on Thursday for a quick firsthand look at the worsening conflict that had killed perhaps 300 000 people, forced 2.5 million to flee their homes, and showed no sign of a political solution.
Facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, a visiting delegation from the council handed a list of about a dozen areas needing improved co-operation between the UN and the Sudanese government to presidential adviser Nafie Ali Nafie on Wednesday.
At the top of the list was speeding up deployment of the UN-African Union force that took over peacekeeping in January but had only gotten 9 000 of the 26 000 authorised troops on the ground, a key to helping protect civilians in the many camps for the displaced.
One stumbling block had been the Sudanese government's reluctance to allow non-African troops into the region - and on this issue the council got a piece of good news on Wednesday.
Suffering 'worsening'
Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers, co-leader of the council delegation, said Nafie promised that Thai and Nepalese battalions could deploy after Ethiopian and Egyptian troops arrive in Darfur, "and he did this in the name of President (Omar) al-Bashir".
"We welcomed that as confirming the understanding that had been reached privately between the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and president Bashir in a recent meeting," Sawers said.
The council's list also included calls for speedier customs arrangements, 24-hour a day use of airports in Darfur, improved humanitarian access, and protection of convoys traveling across Sudan, he said.
Nafie "promised to study the list and work on the issues", Sawers said, adding that the delegation "welcomed the signs of improved co-operation between the Sudanese government and the UN".
In grim reports to the Security Council in late April, UN humanitarian chief John Holmes and the UN-AU force's envoy, Rodolphe Adada, said suffering in the western Sudanese region was worsening as fighting escalated with tens of thousands more people uprooted from their homes.
Govt 'getting frustrated'
At the time, Adada said that with the help of donors, perhaps 80% of the UN-AU force could be deployed by the end of this year.
But the mission still lacked five critical capabilities to become operational - attack helicopters, surveillance aircraft, transport helicopters, military engineers and logistical support.
Sudan's Foreign Minister Deng Alor told said on Wednesday after meeting the delegation that the government "is also getting frustrated" because of the delay in the force's full deployment.
The council was scheduled to fly to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and headquarters of the UN-AU force known as UNAMID. Members would meet Adada, the "wali" or governor of North Darfur, and other UN, AU and Sudanese officials. They would also visit a camp and speak to representatives of the displaced.
After returning to Khartoum, council members were to meet al-Bashir on Thursday night.
- AP