Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 1, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief /1 December 2011
Shooting incident in North Darfur IDP camp
A UNAMID patrol in Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp was informed yesterday about a shooting incident on 29 November leading to the death of one IDP and injury of others. Armed men in military attire reportedly attempted to loot two shops in the camp. The resisting of the owner brought about the reinforcement of the armed group, followed by random shooting, killing one person and injuring two others. The injured received initial medical aid at an INGO medical facility in the camp and later transferred to El Fasher hospital.
UNAMID supports medical assistance to area affected by diphtheria
UNAMID facilitated today the transportation of a medical team from the World Health Organization (WHO) and State Ministry of Health to El Taweisha locality, North Darfur, where an outbreak of diphtheria has been reported.
The purpose of the team is to reinforce the health personnel on the ground to contain the spread of diphtheria in El Taweisha area. So far, WHO and Ministry of Health officials in the area have confirmed 9 cases of diphtheria and 100 suspected cases that are under investigation. About 12 children are suspected to have died from the disease in the locality. According to WHO the outbreak is affecting children below the ages of 15 years.
UNAMID committed to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in Darfur
To commemorate World AIDS Day, the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) organized today events including drama, poetry, Rwandese and Indonesian traditional dances aimed at raising awareness among its peacekeepers. This year's theme is “Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV Infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.”
UNAMID, in collaboration with the Sudan National AIDS Program (SNAP), has planned an awareness and testing campaign in North Darfur targeting residents in Abu Shouk and Al Salaam internally displaced persons camps. The campaign that will take place in the coming days will involve awareness raising activities, Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing (VCCT), and training sessions for women and youth.
UNAMID's HIV section is part of the State's technical HIV and AIDS working group providing technical assistance and offering capacity building to SNAP personnel. The Mission is also providing logistical support to SNAP and the State Ministry of Health.
The World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year to honor the victims of the AIDS pandemic, focus attention on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS-related conditions and increase awareness of these conditions.
UNAMID patrols
UNAMID military conducted 143 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 78 villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. UNAMID Police advisors conducted 113 patrols in villages and IDP camps.