S/PV.6474 Security Council

I thank Mr. Khare for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Gambari. Mr. Gambari: I would like to express my appreciation for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the latest developments in Darfur. I also take this opportunity to welcome the new members of the Security Council — Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa — and to pledge the same cooperation of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) with them as we extend to the other members of the Council. As Under-Secretary-General Le Roy highlighted during his briefing to the Council on 6 January, we are deeply concerned at the renewed violence that took place in December in Northern and Southern Darfur as a result of the deteriorated relations between the Government and Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minawi (SLA-MM). Since then, UNAMID and the humanitarian community have worked vigourously to address the humanitarian and protection consequences of these clashes, which have included the displacement of an estimated 43,000 people, 15,000 of whom have gathered around UNAMID team sites in Shangil Tobaya, Khor Abeche and Shaeria. While camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), such as Zam Zam and Dar al-Salam, have registered some new arrivals as a result of this conflict, the bulk of new displacement is expected to be temporary. In that regard, UNAMID forces have maintained a robust presence and have increased patrolling in the villages affected by the recent fighting so as to create a security environment that would allow for the early and safe return of recently displaced people. Unfortunately, in what seems to be a continuation of the events of December, violence between the Government of the Sudan and SLA-MM re-erupted as recently as 24 January in the village of Thabit, located along the road between El Fasher and Shangil Tobaya. UNAMID has also received reports of an operation on the same day by the Sudanese Armed Forces on the village of Abu Zerega, in the same area. On 25 January, fighting continued in the general area between El Fasher and Shangil Tobaya. Reports received indicate that elements of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdul Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) and the Liberation and Justice Movement had joined the SLA-MM in those clashes. The UNAMID team site in Shangil Tobaya reported sounds of artillery fire. The Government blocked the main road between El Fasher and Shangil Tobaya to all traffic. Accordingly, UNAMID and the humanitarian community have not yet been able to access the area; but we will persist in our efforts to be able to verify the situation, and in particular the impacts of the ongoing clashes on the civilian population. As of this afternoon here in Darfur, fighting in the area has subsided, but tensions persist and a resumption of violence between the belligerent parties is possible. While I am pleased to report to the Council that the UNAMID staff member who was held hostage for 91 days was released unharmed on 5 January, I am most saddened by the fact that, since then, we have suffered yet another hostage-taking incident in Darfur. On 13 January, three Bulgarian air crew members working for a contractor of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) were abducted by unidentified armed elements upon landing in Um Shalaya, West Darfur. The consequent decision by UNHAS to suspend flights to unsecured landing sites in West Darfur is likely to impact negatively on access to deep-field locations. As a mitigating measure, UNAMID will provide security at helicopter landing sites at our team sites in order to minimize the disruption to humanitarian operations. Meanwhile, I am pleased to report to the Council that the Mission is taking further steps to improve the situation of access in Darfur. In a meeting with UNAMID military and police leaders on 4 January, I issued firm instructions that henceforth we would adopt a more robust posture and no longer create the impression of seeking permission for movement within our area of responsibility. I reinforced that message in my meeting in Khartoum on 6 January with Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salaheddin, who holds the Darfur portfolio and who reconfirmed to me the Government’s policy of allowing UNAMID freedom of movement throughout Darfur. Just two days ago, I repeated the same message to the Walis of South Darfur and West Darfur. Since then, UNAMID supply and logistics convoys to all team sites, as well as humanitarian convoys to Khor Abeche, Shaeria and Shangil Tobaya, have faced no impediments. On other occasions, we were able to push our way through due to the robust posture and persistent negotiations by the patrol commanders, as exemplified on 23 January when a UNAMID formed police unit patrol team and an integrated UNAMID-United Nations country team were dispatched to the Zam Zam IDP camp, close to El Fasher, to verify the situation during and after a cordon-and-search operation by the Government inside the camp. They were initially stopped outside of Zam Zam by military personnel of the Government of the Sudan, but shortly thereafter were allowed to proceed. We insisted on proceeding. However, I also have to report that in other instances we have not yet been fully successful. For example, as of today, humanitarian agencies have not secured access to Dar al-Salam, in North Darfur, which is another location of recent fighting. As recently as 23 January, Government military personnel denied access to a UNAMID verification patrol that was about to enter Dar al-Salam. This issue has been raised again with Government authorities, and we are awaiting their response. I have been informed that the Council has expressed interest in the issue of access to Jebel Marra. I would like to address this issue and give the Council an overview of the situation there. Jebel Marra is a mountainous region at the midpoint between three Darfur states, namely, North, South and West Darfur. Significant portions of Jebel Marra have been cut off from humanitarian and UNAMID access since February 2010 — slightly less than a year ago — due in part to fighting, primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces and forces of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdul Wahid al-Nur. On repeated occasions throughout 2010, UNAMID and humanitarian agencies attempted to gain access to points in Jebel Marra in order to assess reports of fighting and, principally, to deliver aid to affected communities. On nearly all occasions, those attempts were prevented by SLA-AW and Government forces. However, more recently, UNAMID and some agencies have gained access to certain areas within Jebel Marra. For example, on 13 November, UNAMID conducted two patrols to the eastern and western parts of Jebel Marra, including to Guldo and Golo, on the western side, and Tarny, Gosdor and Turty, on the eastern side. On 11 December, another verification patrol visited Guldo and Golo and assessed the situation as generally calm. Planned patrols to Eastern Jebel Marra from Sector South were delayed due to the outbreak of fighting between Sudanese Armed Forces and SLA-MM in Khor Abeche. However, on 13 January, a long-range patrol from Sector South reached Deribat through a route controlled by the Government. More of these patrols are planned in the near future so as to further expand access in the area. Meanwhile, Eastern Jebel Marra remains a focus of UNAMID and country team efforts to open space and allow for the delivery of emergency relief supplies. On 23 December, a joint UNAMID-UNICEF child demobilization mission visited the area of Golombei. On 11 January, a joint UNAMID-UNICEF-World Health Organization mission reached Kaguro, in the Jebel Si area, delivering vaccines and medical supplies for about 3,000 children as part of an accelerated routine immunization campaign. The UNAMID team site in Sortony, North Darfur, also provides assistance to UNICEF in its efforts to open additional water bore holes in the eastern parts of Jebel Marra. UNAMID therefore continues to work jointly with United Nations agencies to further expand access to eastern Jebel Marra. Discussions are ongoing to identify additional locations for a possible permanent presence by UNAMID and humanitarian actors. The Mission is also continuing to streamline procedures to speed up flight clearances. While UNAMID will continue to patrol into Jebel Marra, it is important to underscore the need to balance our efforts with regard to Jebel Marra with the ongoing protection requirements following the fighting in Khor Abeche, Shangil Tobaya and Shaeria, as well as the required preparedness to react to potential hotspots along the border with Southern Sudan and elsewhere in Darfur. No doubt, Jebel Marra is an important area in Darfur that will remain a priority for UNAMID efforts. But I want to remind members of the Council that there are challenges throughout Darfur that all require our presence and full support. In that regard, the current report (S/2011/22) on UNAMID details the overall protection-of-civilians strategy for the Mission. UNAMID’s protection strategy identifies objectives and tasks to engage with and assist the Government to carry out its responsibilities in accordance with its international obligations. Some of the key priorities of that strategy are for the Mission to not only maintain a robust and integrated presence in the areas of potential hostilities in order to deter violence — and deterrence is key — but also provide direct protection, secure humanitarian space, and monitor and provide accurate and verified reporting based on engagement with all sides. Furthermore, in an effort to continuously improve our operational preparedness, we have reviewed our initial response to the fighting in Khor Abeche on 10 and 11 December 2010 and will incorporate lessons learned into our operational procedures in the future. As I have stated on previous occasions, including in remarks to this Council, it is my belief that in order to achieve lasting stabilization in Darfur, we must seize all opportunities to build on positive trends in order to allow displaced populations to regain a sense of normality in their lives and move beyond aid dependency. I have always said that we have to refrain from regarding as normal the abnormal situation of having more than 1.8 million people in IDP camps. In that regard, I recognize the improved dialogue and collaboration between central and state-level authorities, humanitarian workers and UNAMID through the reactivation of collaborative mechanisms, such as the High-level Committee on Darfur and state- level committees. If any efforts in that regard are to be fruitful, however, the fighting in Darfur must stop, and stop immediately. The renewed clashes over the past two days have very likely caused new displacements and suffering of the civilian population, which has suffered too much already. The full extent of the impact will become clear in the coming days. I have engaged the Government and SLA-MM, calling for restraint and an immediate cessation of hostilities. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that call and to urge those members of the Council who have influence to exercise it so that we can bring about a cessation of hostilities sooner rather than later. I am sorry that I have spoken for a bit longer than I had planned, but it has been a while since I have spoken to Council members directly on behalf of UNAMID.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. I should now like to invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.