UNAMID inaugurates development projects in South Darfur towns

1 Jul 2014

UNAMID inaugurates development projects in South Darfur towns

On 26 June, UNAMID formally handed over three projects, which were part of the Mission's quick impact projects (QIPs), to the local community in Douma, Mershing and Manawashi in South Darfur.

The project in Mershing town consisted of a women's centre consisting of two training rooms, a meeting room, a storage area and an office. The project will benefit some 3,500 women as the centre is intended to be a venue for capacity building training for women in various fields, including vocational training, handicrafts, small industries and other activities for empowering women economically. It will also serve as a centre for women rights advocacy campaigns, conducting gender mainstreaming workshops and sensitizing the community on national and international instruments dealing with women's rights. “Let us try to work together to enable women to play their role in society for peace and development,” said Mr. Imtiaz Hussain, UNAMID Sector South Head of Office, at the inaugural ceremony of the women's centre in Mershing.

In Douma and Manawashi villages, UNAMID inaugurated two projects involving training 600 rural women in each village on making fuel-efficient stoves. The projects aim at supporting women and protecting the environment. The use of such stoves reduces the volume of firewood needed for cooking. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in the frequency of trips to fetch firewood by women, thereby lessening their exposure to gender-based related violence.

Addressing women in Manawashi, UNAMID Head of Office, Mr. Imtiaz Hussain said that empowering women is an effective way for empowering Darfuri society as a whole. He also called on the leaders of the community to ensure maximum care for this facility.