UN raises security alert in Darfur

2008-07-12 21:19

Khartoum - The United Nations has raised the security level for staff operating in Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur, stopping short of evacuating non-essential staff, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

"The security level has gone to phase four. That means all internationally recruited staff who are not directly concerned with emergency or humanitarian relief operations or security matters are relocated," said Shereen Zorba.

"However, the majority of our staff are concerned with security and emergency relief. So far no one has been evacuated," said the deputy spokesperson in Darfur for the joint African Union-United Nations mission.

"If it becomes necessary, the mission may take the decision to relocate non-essential staff temporarily," she added.

On Friday, Western newspapers reported that International Criminal Court prosecutors will seek the arrest of Sudan President Omar al-Beshir for genocide in Darfur, prompting Khartoum to warn of a threat to peace efforts.

The development has raised fears that naming Beshir could trigger a military response by Sudanese forces or their proxies against UN and African Union peacekeepers.

Staff in Darfur were informed on Saturday of the new security arrangements, which restrict the movement of civilian personnel. Any raising of security to the next level would require total evacuation.

"During the lifetime of UNAMID, this is the first time for us here that it goes to level four," said Zorba.

UNAMID in Darfur, where the mission has currently around 10 000 staff, was previously listed at phase three, a non-family posting.

- AFP