Rebels condemn UNAMID army airlift

The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) has condemned UNAMID for reportedly airlifting injured Sudanese soldiers to the Mission’s team site in El-Fasher for treatment after last week’s clashes in Wadi Murrah, North Darfur, Radio Dabanga learned on Monday, 12 November. In a press statement released on Sunday, SLM-MM integrated in the SRF, said the mission evacuated 25 government troops. The rebels described UNAMID’s action as ‘a violation of its mandate, [which] includes the protection of civilians as well as to control, verify and facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid in the region’. The SLM-MM demanded that the UN Security Council, the EU, the AU and all other international and regional parties investigate ‘the failure of the mission’ and ‘its lack of impartiality’, the statement read. An investigation, the rebels continued, is required to prevent UNAMID from becoming ‘a party in the conflict’ by cooperating with the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese army in particular. Medical assistance falls under mandate On its turn, UNAMID described the provision of medical assistance to wounded combatants as a ‘core requirement of international humanitarian law, which falls under the Mission’s mandate’, a press statement from Monday read. The Mission added it has previously provided such assistance to combatants of both sides, respecting the principles of neutrality and impartiality. Lastly, the Acting Joint Special Representative of UNAMID, Ms. Mindaoudou, urged all sides to cease hostilities immediately, respect international human rights and humanitarian law, and engage fully in the peaceful settlement of Darfur conflict.Related content: SRF: More than 100 killed and injured in recent clashes (12 November 2012)