Security situation in Darfur, Sudan Feb 16, 2010 - UNAMID hails arrival of helicopters from Ethiopia - Soudan: attaque contre la MINUAD (16 février)

From EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 /via APO
UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2010-02-16:

Security situation in Darfur
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm but unpredictable. UNAMID continues to monitor the escalating tensions in South and West Darfur.

UNAMID military forces conducted 116 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 71 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.

UNAMID police advisors also conducted 96 patrols in villages and IDP camps.

UNAMID hails arrival of tactical helicopters from Ethiopia
The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today received five MI-35 tactical helicopters from Ethiopia. The helicopters arrived in Nyala, South Darfur, with 15 pilots and crew members onboard. They will join a 185 member advance team, including pilots, technicians and protection force, which arrived last month.

UNAMID JSR Ibrahim Gambari has expressed his most sincere gratitude to the Ethiopian government for this latest contribution to the Mission indicating that the helicopters will provide rapid response to areas which had been difficult to access by ground. “My hope is that other member states will come to the Mission’s assistance in providing critically needed aviation assets,” he added. UNAMID still requires 18 utility helicopters and two transport units.

The tactical helicopters will largely be used for troop deployment and monitoring the security situation in Darfur.

Ethiopia’s current contribution to the Mission includes a medium transport company, an infantry battalion, an engineering unit and a multi-role logistics company.

Inauguration of UNAMID/UNDP projects in Ardamata Prison in West Darfur
In a joint effort to assist the prison system in Darfur, UNAMID Rule of Law and UNDP inaugurated yesterday the “Legal Aid and Literacy Programme for Female Inmates” at Ardamata Prison in El Geneina, West Darfur. The launch is part of a broader support programme to assist the prison system in Darfur.

The two organizations will establish a mechanism to coordinate prison development and programmes in West Darfur, as well as in North and South Darfur; provide support training and human resource development for prison staff; upgrade infrastructure, including water, sanitation and healthcare; and, vocational training programmes for rehabilitations of prisons throughout the region.

The launch was attended by senior officials from UNAMID and UNDP as well as senior Government of Sudan officials including the Director of the Prison of Ardamata, Chief Justice of West Darfur, Government of Sudan Deputy Commander, Minister of Social Welfare and the Advisor to the Wali (Governor) on Women and Children in West Darfur.

The Mission will continue to work closely with the government to build the institutional capacity of the prison system throughout Darfur.

SOURCE: United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)

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Update Wed 17 Feb 2010 16:45 PM GMT UK

Soudan : attaque contre la MINUAD (16 février 2010)
From African Press Organization (APO):

PARIS, France, 17 février 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — La France condamne avec la plus grande fermeté l’attaque perpétrée le 16 février contre la Mission des Nations unies et de l’Union africaine au Darfour (MINUAD) qui a fait 7 blessés parmi les soldats pakistanais de la force de paix.

Nous appelons les autorités soudanaises à faire toute la lumière sur cette attaque inadmissible contre une force de maintien de la paix et demandons à ce que ses auteurs soient poursuivis en justice dans les meilleurs délais.

La France réaffirme son plein soutien à l’action de la MINUAD et de ses personnels en faveur de la sécurité des populations civiles au Darfour.

SOURCE: France – Ministry of Foreign Affairs