UNAMID: Security Situation in Darfur July 15, 2009

Source:  UN – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) 
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan (via APO)

UNAMID Daily Media Brief July 15, 2009

Security Situation in Darfur

The general security situation in Darfur is reported to be relatively calm.

UNAMID military conducted 94 patrols, including confidence-building, escort patrols, night patrols and investigation patrols covering sixty-six (66) villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC) Workshop for Darfurian Women

The Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Center for Peace and Community Development Studies, University of Nyala, organized a two-day workshop on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July to explore the achievement of sustainable peace and reconciliation in Darfur. Women leaders from South Darfur participated in the workshop, which discussed a range of topics to identify common issues in an effort to end the conflict in Darfur.

Further, issues pertaining to the impact of the ongoing crisis and damage it has caused to the livelihoods, infrastructure and social fabric of Darfur, and long term challenges were raised. Participants emphasized that sustainable peace in Darfur could only be achieved through the provision of basic public services, especially health and education, as well as by conducting vocational training and creation of job opportunities, among others. In that light, they noted the lack of resources and funding for implementation of related development projects.

The women also discussed the security situation in Darfur, including the exchange of weapons in and around the villages and IDP camps in the area, and across the borders with neighboring countries, especially Chad.

The DDDC Secretariat was set up at the recommendation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) to facilitate a broad and inclusive consultative process to help Darfurians discuss and find solutions to the conflict in Darfur among themselves.