UNAMID PR / 17-2011 

Operation to support humanitarian action continues, improves access to remote areas

El Fasher, 30 May 2011 – UNAMID African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) will press ahead next month with the second phase of an operation aimed at providing enhanced access for humanitarian organizations to remote areas in Darfur’s three states.

‘Operation Spring Basket,’ a UNAMID initiative, in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aimed at creating a conducive environment for humanitarian action through the provision of security and logistic support, was launched on 1 May.

Over the past weeks, humanitarian organizations have been assisted by UNAMID to reach the villages of En Siro, Kutum, Kuma Garadayat, Kaguro and Tine, in North Darfur, and Killin and Sarong in West Darfur.

During the missions that took place to these areas, humanitarian actors were able to assess the needs of the communities and to deliver relief supplies to areas which had already been evaluated. The items included vaccines to be used in the treatment of more than 14,000 children, de-worming medicines for more than 3,000 livestock, and school building materials.

During the next phase, the operation plans to visit Kwila, Kutrum and Kurifal in West Darfur, Jebel Eissa, El Hara and Tine in North Darfur, and Golombai in South Darfur. Humanitarian organizations will determine the needs of each area and plan concrete actions to carry on there.

“It is a great achievement to now go every week into communities that had not been reached for several months,” said Mr. Oriano Micaletti, the Head of UNAMID’s Humanitarian Protection Strategy Coordination Division.

The Operation is intended to establish permanent and safe access to remote areas which have been inaccessible due to conflict, for months if not years. The territories targeted lie in both government-controlled regions and those controlled by armed movements.

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