02 March 2011 - A week-long UNAMID field assessment mission to El Fardous, 62 km southwest of El Daein, near the border between South Darfur and South Sudan yesterday returned to Nyala. The team comprised UNAMID’s Civil Affairs component, military and security advisors.

While security in the region was found to be relatively stable, the peacekeepers observed that many areas were lacking water and basic education and health services. The team met with local authorities to discuss the logistics challenges in the provision of social and other services to the local population. They also noted the suspected presence of UXOs in some areas.

This is the second such mission to the southern border area. No aid organizations are stationed there. The first, which took place at the beginning of February, visited villages in Abu Matariq, Dehil El Dabi, Samaha, Kalama, Al Kobo and Al Malam.

The findings and recommendations of both missions will help Government authorities, UN agencies and other aid groups determine how to direct water, health, education and veterinary resources to these areas.

As South Sudan prepares to secede, UNAMID also plans to work closely with the Sudanese Government and UNMIS to defuse tensions and prevent any outburst of fighting in the area.

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