In a briefing sent today ahead of the UN Security Council debate on Darfur, Amnesty International urged its country members to ensure the UN mission has the resources needed to fulfil its mandate.
“Issuing a resolution to get a UN mission on Darfur is not enough. The UN Security Council is responsible for ensuring the mission has the vital resources and room for manoeuvre to protect people from ill treatment, sexual abuse and killings,” said Tawanda Hondora, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Program.
In the briefing, Amnesty International details items including helicopters, personnel and land transport as basic tools needed by the UN African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur to carry out their jobs.
Amnesty International also urged the Sudanese authorities to facilitate the work of the UN force by not delaying the issuing of visas and vital equipment at customs.
The organization stressed that even without being fully resourced, UNAMID should still be able to act now to protect civilians on the ground by constant patrolling around camps, patrolling along roads and outreach to the local population, displaced and others, non-Arabs and Arabs.
“Both the Security Council and the Sudanese government have a responsibility and role to play in ensuring that this UN mission is effective in protecting the people at risk in Darfur.”