Security situation in Darfur, Sudan - Nov 22, 2009 - UNAMID provides electoral assistance as registration enters final week concluding on Nov 26

As part of an agreement with the Sudanese Government, UNAMID has been tasked with providing technical assistance in Sudan’s upcoming elections, currently slated for April 2010. UNAMID staff members are among 69 election teams working in Northern Darfur registering eligible voters.

The registration period, initially scheduled to run 30 days beginning 1 November, will now conclude on 26 November 2009. The shortened period is due to the upcoming religious holiday of Eid al-Adha. Results of the electoral registration are scheduled to be made public on 1 December, with a challenge period, designed to file complaints, appeals or amendments, from 2 December 2009 to 5 January 2010.

To date, 245,000 of 850,000 eligible voters in Northern Darfur have registered. There are 577 voter registration centres throughout Darfur.

Source: UNAMID Daily Media Brief from EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, November 23, 2009/APO.  Here is a copy, in full:

Security situation in Darfur

The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm, but unpredictable.

UNAMID military forces conducted 65 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 60 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors also conducted 108 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID provides electoral assistance as registration enters final week
As part of an agreement with the Sudanese Government, UNAMID has been tasked with providing technical assistance in Sudan’s upcoming elections, currently slated for April 2010. UNAMID staff members are among 69 election teams working in Northern Darfur registering eligible voters.

The registration period, initially scheduled to run 30 days beginning 1 November, will now conclude on 26 November 2009. The shortened period is due to the upcoming religious holiday of Eid al-Adha. Results of the electoral registration are scheduled to be made public on 1 December, with a challenge period, designed to file complaints, appeals or amendments, from 2 December 2009 to 5 January 2010.

To date, 245,000 of 850,000 eligible voters in Northern Darfur have registered. There are 577 voter registration centres throughout Darfur.

Demobilization and reintegration programme begins in North Darfur
More than 150 ex-combatants took part today in the first of a three-day demobilization and reintegration programme sponsored by the Government of Sudan and supported by UNAMID.

The wheels for the initiative were set in motion in the summer of 2008, when signatories, comprising leaders from rebel movements, agreed to hand over their weapons.

The programme is composed of several components including briefings on reintegration, verification of administrative documents, medical and disability screening, fingerprinting, and the issuance of identification cards. Participants are given a cash payment of 400 Sudanese Pounds ($150 USD). After two months, the participants will be issued food vouchers and other basic amenities.

In all, more than 400 ex-combatants from North Darfur are to be eventually demobilized in El Fasher. Two additional demobilization and reintegration events are scheduled for West and South Darfur shortly.

The disarmament demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme is part of the Final Security Arrangement of the Darfur Peace Agreement.