The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herv\u00e9 Ladsous, accompanied by the Joint Special Representative and head of the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (Unamid), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, ended their visit to Sudan on Friday, according to an Unamid press statement.<\/p>\n
During the visit, which began on Wednesday, Ladsous travelled to Ed Daein in East Darfur state, where he met with the Wali (Governor) and other members of local government, leaders of Native Administration and civil society, as well as internally displaced people at El Neem camp. He also had extensive discussions with Unamid personnel.<\/p>\n
The statement says that Ladsous met with President Omar Al Bashir and other senior officials of the Sudanese government while in Khartoum during a visit that was part of a wider tour including South Sudan and Mali.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press in Khartoum on Thursday Ladsous expressed concern over the recent intensification of conflict in Darfur and its impact on the civilian population. \u201cWe have witnessed a deterioration in the security situation. More people have been displaced \u2013 over 300,000 since the beginning of this year \u2013 due mostly to tribal clashes,\u201d the head of UN peacekeeping said.<\/p>\n
Ladsous called on all parties to cease hostilities and praised the efforts of Unamid peacekeepers, \u201cwho serve in very difficult circumstances, to protect civilians, secure the delivery of aid and support the peace process\u201d.<\/p>\n
He remarked that on Wednesday, three peacekeepers were injured in an ambush on a Unamid convoy near Labado, East Darfur. \u201cAttacks on peacekeepers are a crime,\u201d he said, adding that in violation of international humanitarian law a Unamid ambulance was fired upon by an unidentified armed group. He condemned the incident and applauded \u201cthe peacekeepers\u2019 robust response to the attack\u201d, stressing that \u201cthe perpetrators must be apprehended and prosecuted\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ladsous reiterated the UN\u2019s support for the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur and urged the Government of Sudan and the non-signatory movements to cease hostilities and enter into negotiations immediately.<\/p>\n
Regarding relations between Sudan and South Sudan, Ladsous called on the governments of both countries \u201cto fully implement the 27 September agreements and resolve all disputes through the bilateral mechanisms provided for in these accords\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ladsous expressed concern over the security and humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. He noted that \u201ca disagreement between the parties over modalities for humanitarian access was preventing the conduct of a campaign to vaccinate 150,000 children\u201d.<\/p>\n
He urged the parties to that conflict to allow unhindered humanitarian access to people in need.<\/p>\n
News photo: Herv\u00e9 Ladsous, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, meets one of the three Unamid peacekeepers injured in an ambush near Labado, East Darfur at the mission\u2019s base in Nyala. (Photo by Albert Gonz\u00e1lez Farran\/Unamid)<\/em><\/p>\n