Ambassadors of the European Union concluded a two-day visit to North Darfur, which took place between Wednesday 17 October and Friday, 19 October, as previously reported by Radio Dabanga.

The ambassadors were briefed about the security situation and the progress in the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), a press statement read.

In addition, the deputy governor of North Darfur, Al Fateh Abdel Aziz, welcomed the European Union’s support to Darfur in the areas of shelter, food and health and requested the shifting of aid from humanitarian to development to also cover the areas of infrastructure.

The EU ambassadors stressed the importance of progress in the security situation as well as the need for more foreign aid to flow in, according to the statement.

UNAMID

The ambassadors also reportedly met with UNAMID and were briefed on the political, security and human rights situation in Darfur in addition to the different projects implemented by the mission and the challenges that their work on the ground is facing.

Darfur Regional Authority

The European ambassadors concluded their meetings by visiting the Darfur Regional Authority and met with the ministers of development and of finance, as pointed out in the press statement.

Furthermore, they were briefed on the level of progress and implementation of the DDPD and ambassador Tomas Ulicny called on the non signatories to join the agreement. Ulicny stressed that the biggest guarantee to peace is reflecting its impact on the ground.

Field visits

The ambassadors conducted a number of field visits to projects in Al Shagara and Abu Shouk IDP camps, funded by European and United Nations agencies and met with a group of displaced people to learn about their demands and living conditions.

Ulincy said that the security situation and access to international organizations to work in Darfur remains a concern and expressed his hope that the DDPD [signed in Doha] would bring peace and stability to the region. He commented that the peak of the trip was the meeting of the Ambassadors with the Darfuri nomads and IDPs who expressed their need to lasting peace and sustainable development, which requires collective efforts, both local and international, to end the crisis in Darfur.

The European ambassador said that the UNAMID and other UN agencies are doing their best to help the Darfuri people and better security and funding as well as more access will allow them to do more for Darfur.

Photo: EU ambassadors, from left to right: French, Spanish, Dutch, European Union, British, Italian and Swedish

Related content: EU to evaluate UNAMID peace efforts (16 October 2012)

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/37343

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) announced killing six Sudanese military troops in South Kordofan on Monday, 22 October, the group’s spokesman, Arno Ngutolo Lodi, told Radio Dabanga.

Lodi said that SPLA forces attacked a convoy belonging to the Sudanese army northwest of Dilling, adding the army suffered heavy material losses.

According to the spokesman, the family of Sudanese soldier Mutasim Abd al-Rahman was also captured. He added that the movement also seized weapons and ammunition from the vehicles.

Radio Dabanga could not reach the Sudanese army for comments.

Three children injured

On the other hand, three children got injured as a result of aerial bombings in the village of Taylo, in the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan, last Thursday, 18 October, Lodi told Radio Dabanga.

He said the an Antonov airplane carried out the bombings that injured the siblings Yasser, Maysoon and Mayzool Tayyar Khamees.

The spokesman said the following villages were also targeted: El-Lebo, Tabolo, El-Hibail Al-Atmor and Umm Sirdiba, and the city of Boram, in Umm Doreen locality.

Lodi said intensive air raids between Thursday and Sunday took place in the region and that more than 20 bombs were dropped during that period. He pointed out that mostly plantations and central points in villages were affected.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/37342