UN forum focuses on how to better meet humanitarian needs in Darfur

Recent security and political developments, as well as boosting cooperation to better serve the humanitarian needs of the people of Darfur, were on the agenda at a meeting yesterday bringing together the United Nations and its partners working in the strife-torn Sudanese region.

Over 50 representatives of the UN, aid agencies and the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID) converged at the mission’s headquarters in El Fasher in North Darfur state for the meeting, the first of its kind.

The gathering enabled the various groups working on development and humanitarian issues in Darfur to outline their roles and strengths, as well as to exchange ideas on how to improve collaboration and address common challenges.

“We must, at all times be guided by the fact that we are here to serve the people of Darfur, in all aspects,” said UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari, who co-chaired the meeting with Georg Charpentier, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative at the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

Mr. Gambari stressed the need for increased cooperation within the humanitarian community to “employ resources more effectively, in a more coordinated fashion and add to each other’s strengths.”

Participants also discussed recent political and security developments, including plans for the reduction of UN peacekeepers serving in Chad and the latest clashes between the Sudanese forces and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur, and their impact on humanitarian efforts.

According to today’s update from UNAMID, the security situation in the region remains tense following reports of fighting in Jebel Moon, West Darfur, on Friday between JEM and Sudanese forces.

In addition, UNAMID has resumed patrols to Shangil Tobaya in North Darfur, and is planning a series of assessment missions to camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) there to verify the number of people who settled their after leaving New Shangil Tobaya camp last week due to fears of renewed fighting.

In February, the Government and JEM signed a Framework Agreement in Doha, Qatar, paving the way for a final resolution of the conflict in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003.

Yesterday’s meeting stressed the need for an all-inclusive peace agreement to help stabilize the region and promote an atmosphere conducive to early recovery and development.