Wednesday, April 01, 2009

UNAMID: Security situation in Darfur March 30, 2009

From United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan
March 30, 2009 Daily Media Brief via APO March 31, 2009
Security Situation in Darfur

During the past 72 hours, the security situation in Darfur has remained relatively calm; however, banditry activities and car-jacking incidents were reported in North and West Darfur.

A UNAMID vehicle was car-jacked on 26 March by unknown armed men in the Kifah area, about 500 metres from UNAMID headquarters in El Geneina, West Darfur. The men stopped the vehicle and ordered the staff members out of the car. The car-ackers drove away in the direction of El Geneina’s market. The incident was reported to Government of Sudan police and National Security.

A vehicle belonging to an NGO was car-jacked by unknown armed men on 28 March in the vicinity of Hamadia, near the town of Zalingei in West Darfur. The car-jacker ordered the driver, who was not injured, out of the vehicle. The incident was reported to GoS Police.

Meanwhile, UNAMID conducted 25 confidence-building patrols, 16 escort patrols and six night patrols covering 46 villages/IDP camps. Similarly, UNAMID Police conducted 90 patrols in and around the villages and IDP camps.

Fire causes damage at IDP camp in West Darfur

A fire broke out last night at Al Riyad camp for internally displaced Persons (IDP) camp, near El Geneina in West Darfur, causing heavy damage to about 35 shelters, the loss of many animals, and leaving a large number of people homeless. A UNAMID investigation team was dispatched to the camp to probe the cause of the fire.

UNAMID receives advance party of the 2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion


The advance party of the 2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion, consisting of 100 personnel, arrived in Nyala today to join UNAMID. Another 100 personnel are expected to arrive tomorrow. The advance party consists mainly of engineering personnel with light capability to prepare the location for the arrival of the main body of the Battalion.

The main body is scheduled to arrive within four months, bringing the battalion’s expected total to 850 peacekeepers. They will be deployed in Ed El Fursan and Tulus in South Darfur.

Egypt’s contribution to the Mission already includes one infantry battalion, one engineering unit, one signal company and one heavy transport company. This brings the total number of Egyptians serving with UNAMID, including the new arrivals, to 1,771.
UNAMID Force Commander visits troops in North Darfur

UNAMID Force Commander, General Martin Luther Agwai, today paid a visit to the troops deployed in Tawilla and Sortoni, North Darfur. The trip is part of the Force Commander’s routine visits to the troops stationed around the region.

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