Darfur - Who Will Protect the Peacekeepers?

[UNAMID soldiers in Darfur - Photo from the Sudan Tribune]

A report released Tuesday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (of recent hip-hop fame) paints a grim picture of the challenges facing UNAMID, the joint UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur. According to the report:

More than a year after the Security Council authorized the deployment of UNAMID under resolution 1769, conditions required for an effective peacekeeping operation remain absent in Darfur.

Attacks against UNAMID have killed six peacekeepers since July. Not even air operations are safe, as UNAMID helicopters came under fire four times in August and September alone.

The report further notes that both sides share the blame: "The mission’s freedom of movement was undermined repeatedly by restrictions imposed by the Government and the [rebel] movements."

Needless to say, the humanitarian situation has not improved. Over 230,000 civilians have been displaced so far this year, at the rate of almost 1,000 per day. (See here for an article about recent attacks against IDPs.)

More information after the jump about UNAMID force size, attacks against aid workers, and bureaucratic impediments:

Current Size of UNAMID Forces in Darfur:

- "As at 10 October 2008, the total strength of UNAMID uniformed personnel was 10,527, including 8,579 military personnel (8,142 troops, 285 staff officers, 113 military observers and 29 liaison officers), and 1,948 police personnel (1,808 individual police officers and one formed police unit of 140 personnel)."

- "Recruitment of civilian staff stood at 2,564 of 5,557 authorized posts, or 46 per cent of full capacity."

- "Over the course of the remainder of the year, a considerable number of military units, as well as two formed police units, will be deployed to Darfur...Taken together, these deployments will bring the total of UNAMID military and police personnel to 14,823, or 60 per cent of the total authorized strength by the end of 2008."

- "[R]ecent developments have made it clear that the originally envisaged target of 80 per cent will more likely be achieved only by the end of March 2009."

Attacks Against Humanitarian Agencies:

- The number of attacks against humanitarian agencies over the first nine months of 2008 has also already surpassed the total number recorded in 2007: "So far this year, 208 humanitarian vehicles have been hijacked, 155 aid workers abducted (43 WFP-contracted drivers remain unaccounted for), and 123 premises broken into." The report goes on to say that:

Owing to the volatility of the security situation on the ground, humanitarian organizations had to reduce staff presence and mobility throughout Darfur, which resulted in a significant reduction in their ability to deliver humanitarian aid and implement other critical functions, including development-oriented activities.

- For more information about humanitarian access in Darfur, see this recent post.

Bureaucratic Impediments:

- "Despite such an assurance from the Government to facilitate humanitarian access, the Sudanese authorities at the local level continued to impose bureaucratic constraints on humanitarian organizations."

- "In Southern Darfur, the Humanitarian Aid Commission reduced fuel supply for operating water pumps in Kalma camp after an allegation was made that fuel had been used by armed groups. Consequently, approximately 100,000 internally displaced persons suffered from water shortages."

- "On 27 August, the National Intelligence and Security Services detained and beat two pilots operating WFP helicopters, while holding the passengers on the aircraft at gunpoint in Golo, Northern Darfur."

- "Additional procedures have been put in place for transportation of medical supplies into Darfur. Humanitarian organizations are now required to seek authorization when traveling on rented vehicles, which has become an increasingly common practice to avert carjacking. In another development, Government customs authorities have not provided clearance for 5,000 metric tons of sugar held at Port the Sudan for four months."

And, finally, some good news:

According to UN Dispatch, two new UN Formed Police Units (FPUs) deployed to Darfur last week.  As UN Dispatch explains:

These units are basically entire contingents of 100-plus police officers, all from the same country and all having trained and operated together. In UN missions that draw from a multitude of countries, with varying levels of training and equipment, being able to deploy these unified FPUs -- around displaced persons camps, villages, and humanitarian supply lines -- is a major asset.