UNAMID chief ‘promises’ to implement demands of Darfur displaced

West Darfur displaced persons submitted in a meeting on Tuesday a list of their demands to the head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) who “promised” to implement them. Some 60 displaced attended the talks with UNAMID’s Mohamed Ibn Chambas at the mission’s headquarters in Murnei. The group comprised sheikhs, members of the Women’s Union and youth representatives. Their demands to Chambas included provision of security, accession of humanitarian organizations and distribution of food and medicine, end of militias’ attacks and prevention that armed groups enter camps.    In addition, they requested morning and evening UNAMID armed patrols around camps, and that that training sites for the recruitment of displaced to join the popular police forces are not established in the area. These officers would be responsible for guarding the displaced who would voluntarily return to their areas of origin. Voluntary return was one of the topics discussed in the Nyala conference for displaced and refugees earlier this month, established within the framework of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). A sheikh said Chambas took note of all demands and promised to implement them. This week, UNAMID, security forces and the commissioner of Tawila locality met with 100 sheikhs and omdas of three camps in the state who handed them over a similar list of demands.Photo: Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas (unmultimedia.org)Related: UNAMID, security forces invite Darfur camps’ leaders for meeting (29 April 2013)