UNAMID Press Release No/04/2008
14 January, 2008

Protection of Civilians Top UN Police Priorities
As Force Launches its Operation in Darfur IDP Camps

El Fasher / N. Darfur - The United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Police Commissioner, Michael Fryer, has stated that UNAMID Police advisors will concentrate their efforts to establish community policing in the camps for the internally displaced (IDPs) in Darfur, map out strategies to protect women and children, and build the capacity of the local police to meet international standards of professional policing. Commissioner Fryer stated further that the main objective of UNAMID Police is to assist the people of Darfur towards a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Commissioner Fryer stated this on Saturday January 12, 2008 during a five-hour inaugural confidence-building patrol to Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in North Darfur during which he urged the IDPS and the local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the Police Advisors to improve the security situation in the camp.

During interaction with the Umdas (local chiefs), Sheiks, women and youth leaders in the camp, the UNAMID Police Commissioner informed them that the aim of the confidence-building patrol is to introduce UNAMID Police Advisors to the IDPS and the local police around the camp.

Earlier, the Chief Umda of Zamzam main IDP camp, Ali Isaak Ahmed, expressed delight at the presence of UNAMID Police in the camp “We’ve been waiting for this for months and now we are happy you have come,” he said.

Commissioner Fryer, who was accompanied by his Deputy for Policy and Planning, Mrs. Elizabeth Muwanga, further stressed that UNAMID police was committed to assisting the people of Darfur towards a peaceful solution to the conflict.

In her contribution, Mrs.  Muwanga appealed to the IDPS to join hands with UNAMID Police in providing security in the camps. She said, “We are here to work with you, especially the women and children.”  She added, “When we see the family suffering, we too feel the pain. When your children are not going to school, we too feel the pain. When women are raped, we too feel the pain. Let us all work together to stop these painful situations.”

 The IDPS in Zamzam appealed to the UNAMID Police Commissioner to assist them

With the provision of some basic facilities such as water, shelter and basic health care.

 The Police Commissioner and his team also visited part of the camp where over one thousand people, who escaped fighting in Muhajeria, South Darfur, had pitched camp almost three months ago.

#  #  #  #

For more information contact:

Noureddine Mezni
Spokesman, UNAMID
(249) 912 174 276
n.mezni@yahoo.fr

Daniel Adekera
Public Information Officer, UNAMID
(249) 915 060485
adekera@un.org;

Website: http://unamid.unmissions.org