El Fasher, 7 June 2009 – The one-week outreach programme known as “Smile Darfur”, co-organized by the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), has wrapped up with a call for all Darfurians to embrace peace and end the cycle of violence.

UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR), Mr. Henry Anyidoho, issued the call during yesterday’s closing ceremony for “Ibtasim (Smile) Darfur”, which featured art exhibitions, traditional songs and music events, poetry recitals and drama performances over the past week.

Mr. Anyidoho urged all Darfurians, and Sudanese at large, to “join your hands and hearts together to work for the peace, development and prosperity of your land”. He emphasized that UNAMID supports any initiative in keeping with its mandate that will end the suffering of Darfurians.

Echoing the message of the JSR, Mr. Rodolphe Adada, at last week’s opening ceremony, Mr. Anyidoho stressed that although the international community would do as much as it could, only the people of Darfur could move the peace process forward.

Other activities held during “Smile Darfur” included a football match played yesterday in El Fasher between two teams from the nearby Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Presenting the trophy to the winning team, Mr. Anyidoho said the prevailing peaceful atmosphere at the stadium and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by both teams sent a clear and positive message that, although differences may exist, Darfurians can co-exist, develop and prosper in a peaceful environment.

The outreach programme, held as part of activities marking this year’s International Day of Peacekeepers celebrations, was organized by the Communication and Public Information Division of UNAMID in collaboration with the Association of Darfur Artists and the North Darfur Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.