El Fasher, 16 August 2011 - The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur led a seven-day humanitarian mission comprised of OCHA, UNICEF, UNHCR and WHO as well as the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to the Western Jebel Marra, an area isolated by conflict for some two years.

The mission, from 7-14 August, both assessed the needs of the communities and delivered some humanitarian assistance to needy people in Golo, Killin, Sarong, Golol, Thur and Nertiti. However, the team could not access the communities of Kutrum and Kiwilla, as planned, due to security restrictions.

"The assessments so far conducted confirm that approximately 400,000 people are displaced in Jebel Marra area," said Oriano Micaletti, head of the UNAMID Humanitarian Protection Strategy. "They have received very limited assistance during the last few years and are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.”

The precarious security situation in the West Jebel Marra region led to the withdrawal of most international aid organizations in 2009. This month’s multi-agency UN mission was the first to establish contact with the conflict-affected region in many months.

The team established community-based humanitarian committees amongst the local population to support humanitarian aid workers in the distribution of assistance.

The mission also delivered about 60 cartons of nutritional supplement, water treat chlorine, medical supplies, non-food items such as kitchen sets, blankets, sleeping mats, plastic sheets, soaps and high capacity water containers.

The mission to Jebel Marra completes the first phase of the UNAMID-led project dubbed "Operation Spring Basket," launched in May to enable more access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to conflict-affected areas which had been isolated by insecurity for long periods.

In the next phase, the UN teams will revisit these areas and support the humanitarian communities' delivery of substantial amounts of aid.

"The latest assessments conducted by the humanitarian community through Operation Spring basket will help tremendously to have a better understanding of their current needs," Micaletti said.

Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org; tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529; mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020

Guiomar Pau Sole, Media Relations, paug@un.org, mobile: +249 (0)90 090 5097