The head of the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari, gave peace, security and early recovery and development projects priority as he today wrapped up a series of field visits across Darfur.

The JSR ( right ) visits UNAMID offices in Zalingei and greets the staff members. Photo by. Sojoud Elgarrai.

The visits provided the JSR with the opportunity to listen to the concerns of community leaders and to assess the Mission's work in the areas of protecting civilians, promoting the peace process and encouraging development.

The UNAMID chief, who visited Nyala, South Darfur, and El Daein, the capital of the new state of East Darfur, on 7 July spoke with community leaders, government officials and Mission staff. Among the topics of discussion were the strengthening of partnerships at the operational level between the States and UNAMID, and promoting development to address the root causes of the conflict.

"We are determined to promote security and stability and also facilitate the bringing of more projects to the people to ensure sustainable growth and development," said Mr. Gambari in a meeting with South Darfur Wali (Governor) Hammad Abdul Kareem.

The JSR also used the occasion to travel to the Hai Al Matar School for the Deaf in Nyala, where he inaugurated new classrooms. The new facilities represent one of more than 400 quick impact projects (QIPs) funded by the Mission throughout Darfur.

Mr. Gambari on 9 July travelled to El Geneina, West Darfur and Zalingei, Central Darfur, where he held similar meetings. In El Geneina, the JSR met with the state's Wali, Mr. Hayder Atem, where he discussed the Mission's commitment to the region and its people, specifically in the areas of returnees, QIPs and security. He also spoke of the importance of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, the work of the Darfur Regional Authority and the critical need for the holdout movements to join in the peace process.

The eye clinic at El Geneina hospital was later toured by the JSR where he met with medical staff. In speaking on the significance of education and health, he said that "we do the best we can to respond to the needs of the people." He went on to appeal to donor countries and organizations, including the Qatari Government, the African Development Bank and the League of Arab States, to urgently assist the people of Darfur with early recovery projects.

In Zalingei, the JSR met with Mission personnel, updating them on developments on the Doha peace document, and visiting with staff who had sustained injuries during a recent sandstorm which had devastated part of the Mission's camp.

During the trip, the UNAMID chief expressed his intention to soon visit the mountainous region of Jebel Marra, an area which has witnessed several clashes.
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