Kutum, 13 August 2012 - Security concerns were among several issues discussed on 12 August during a meeting between UNAMID Force Commander Lt Gen Patrick Nyamvumba and leaders from Kassab internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Kutum, North Darfur.

Lt. Gen. Nyamvumba met with community leaders from the camp to express his condolences and to assure the IDP representatives of the Mission’s commitment to work with everyone to ensure full protection of civilians in the camp.

“As commander of the forces, I have requested that permanent forces are stationed in Kassab camp,” he said. “They have instructions to protect and defend the civilians on the ground.”

(Right to left) UNAMID Force Commander Patrick Nyamvumba hands out medical supplies to doctor Noureldeen Adam, director of the Rural Hospital in Kutum, and Mustafa Bakhit, the Deputy Commissioner of Kutum. Photo by Sojoud Elgarrai.

The Force Commander urged the community leaders to share information with the Mission. “The best way to avoid this kind of violence is to deter. But without information, there is little we can do.”

Speaking on behalf of IDP leaders, Yousif Musa Ali said protection is the camp’s main concern. “That is why we agreed to meet and work together with UNAMID,” he said. “Without protection on the ground, it is very difficult to tell our people to go back.”

The Force Commander pointed out that the issues of justice and impunity are of serious concern to UNAMID. “The Mission is not in a position to apprehend or arrest; we can only put pressure on the Government ,” he said. 

Lt Gen Nyamvumba also met the medical manager at Kutum Rural Hospital, Dr. Noureddine Abdul Shafi, and the Deputy Locality Commissioner, Mustafa Bakhit Abdalla, to present them with medical supplies for local hospital.

Following the incidents on Kassab, the Mission has re-enforced its forces in and around the camp to fulfil its core mandate to better protect the civilians.