UNAMID comments ‘ignore reality on the ground’

Residents of internally displaced people camps are frustrated at the comments made by the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur spokesman Christopher Cycmanick, in which he described the security situation in Darfur as ‘relatively calm’. Ahmed Al Atim coordinator of IDP camps in North Darfur told Radio Dabanga that these statements ignore the reality on the ground. He described the situation in Darfur as ‘hell’ and said he is surprised by the timing of UNAMID’s statements, as Gereida and Tabet in South Darfur along with areas near Jebel Marra in North Darfur have recently been targeted by the Sudanese air force in air strikes. Al Atim called for UNAMID personnel to ‘honestly report what is happening and particularly crimes against displaced people, which happen right in front of UNAMID’. He also demanded that the UN Security Council pass a resolution on security in Darfur. ‘Reality is completely different’Ahmed Yaqub spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice said the UNAMID spokesman’s comments were disappointing as the reality in Darfur is completely different to what the official spokesman described. Yaqub said the movement remains opposed to the Doha peace agreement. He added that civilians continue to be displaced by air strikes in Jebel Marra and other parts of North Darfur, particularly since May 13 up until the present day. He said these attacks have happened close to UNAMID sites and at most a few kilometres from their bases.Yaqub accused the UNAMID spokesman of speaking for the government of North Darfur.