18 February 2010 - UNAMID’s peacekeeping forces, led by Police Commissioner Micheal Fryer and Deputy Force Commander Maj Gen Duma Dumisani Mdutyana concluded yesterday a special long-range patrol to areas of Darfur which have recently seen an increase in violent incidents.

The patrol set out on 12 February from the Mission’s headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, and passed through Shangil Tobaya, Galab village, and Taabit in North Darfur, Nyala, Kass, Duma, Menawashi and Tabit village in South Darfur, and Zalingei and Nertiti in West Darfur, covering a distance of more than 800 kilometers.

Humanitarian Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, representatives from UNAMID’s Political Affairs, Public Information Divisions, Child Protection and Gender Units, were also among those that joined the Mission’s police and military personnel. They interacted with the community and met with local government authorities along the way.

The long-range patrol is one of several initiatives taken by UNAMID to acquire first-hand accounts of the latest clashes from the affected population and to establish stronger ties within the community. The patrol team also visited the Sakali area, in South Darfur, where UNAMID peacekeepers were ambushed on 16 February.