19 June 2011 - Nomadic communities from South Darfur met in a forum on 14 and 15 June to discuss their involvement in humanitarian and reconciliation activities in Darfur. Facilitated under the auspices of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC) based in Geneva, international participants included representatives of UNAMID and the UN country team as well as nongovernmental organizations based in Darfur.

Participants discussed the impact of the Darfur conflict on different social groups, including women and children, as well as access to resources through the community peace and stability fund and UNAMID’s quick impact projects (QIP) initiative. At the end of the forum, the participants presented four projects that will benefit women and children in the nomadic communities and help in improving nomadic routes for UNAMID’s consideration. The forum should strengthen the role of nomadic representatives in community mediation and reconciliation processes.

It will reconvene in September 2011 to review implementation of the activities planned by the nomads. “Projects funded under the QIP scheme can go a long ways in resolving local level conflicts and facilitate the essential symbiotic relationships between nomads, pastoralists and farmers,” said Head of UNAMID’s Humanitarian, Protection Strategy Coordination Division, Mr. Oriano Micaletti.
.