UNAMID commemorates Nelson Mandela Day

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17 Jul 2014

UNAMID commemorates Nelson Mandela Day

Every year, on 18 July, people around the world heed the call from the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of their time to helping others, as a way to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life. To join in the celebration, peacekeepers from the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) commemorated the day on 17 July 2014 at a primary school in Al Salaam camp for displaced people near El Fasher, North Darfur.

The occasion was marked by a Darfuri music performance, cultural presentations by UNAMID’s South African and Rwandese contingents and a tree-planting ceremony. Also, in the spirit of giving consistent with Mandela Day, the Mission’s peacekeepers are renovating one of the classroom buildings at one of Al Salaam’s schools.

The Mission’s Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR), a.i., Mr. Abiodun Bashua, presented the United Nations Secretary-General’s message for the day. In his message, the Secretary-General recalled Mandela’s legacy of human rights and equality. “Each of us can celebrate this day by helping to address real problems in our communities,” the DJSR quoted the Secretary-General as saying. “Together we can give great meaning to our celebration by paving the way for a better future.”


Children from Al Salam camp and the UNAMID leadership cut a cake during the celebration. Photo by Albert González Farran

Mr. Bashua assured the Al Salaam displaced of the Mission’s commitment to supporting peace efforts. “As a peacekeeper, the greatest achievement is to have all displaced people return to their homes because continued displacements are unacceptable wherever they may be,” he said.

“For peace to happen, all of us must dedicate ourselves to peace; and, in order to achieve peace, there must be tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation,” he added. “In the spirit of Ramadan, let us give peace a chance for the millions of children here today.”

Addressing the participants, the Director of the IDP camp, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Nourain, said Nelson Mandela Day represents justice, democracy and freedom. “With stability, we can be able to return to our original villages; if we manage to return, we can contribute to the welfare of the community as well as the economy,” he said. Mr. Nourain commended UNAMID for its efforts in rehabilitating the school building.