Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, March 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief / 27 March 2012
Three dead following unrest in North Darfur
At least three civilians are dead following an altercation today in the vicinity of Kabkabiya, located approximately 130 kilometers west of El Fasher, North Darfur.
The dispute, in the Bergi market area of the locality, allegedly broke out when the population confronted the Sudanese police over concerns that the market was to be relocated by the local commissioner. Two women were reported killed.
Following the incident, a crowd of more than 200 moved to UNAMID's nearby camp, where they had mistakenly thought the commissioner had sought refuge. Upon trying to force their way into the compound, the protesters, many armed with stones, sticks and machetes, were met with resistance by the Mission's peacekeepers. No shots were fired into the crowd, however three UNAMID troops were injured.
Shortly thereafter, Government forces arrived to disperse the demonstrators. One civilian was shot in the clashes and later died en route to UNAMID's hospital.
Following calls for peace by community leaders the crowd disbanded and the situation is now stable.
UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari, Force Commander Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, Darfur Regional Authority Chairman El Tijani Seisi, as well as North Darfur Wali Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, are to travel to the locality tomorrow to assess the situation.
UNAMID rehabilitates El Fasher library to boost e-learning
As part of its support for growth and development among Darfur's communities, officials of the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today inspected the extent of work at El Fasher Library in North Darfur. The facility is undergoing rehabilitation, equipping and furnishing of its facilities to create a new learning environment.
The work is one of the Mission's many Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and it is facilitated by the national non-governmental organization (NGO), El Bagayat. The project is nearing 80 per cent completion with general repairs, new doors and windows, 15 computers, audio equipment, furniture, as well as more than 20,000 new books.
Ibrahim Abaker, General Secretary at El Fasher Cultural Center, which houses the library noted that, “the project will improve the standard of the library and serve as a learning and training center for our boys and girls, kids and even the elderly in the community.''
The renovated library, to be completed next month, is expected to accommodate more than 50 users on a daily basis.
QIPs are a key element of UNAMID's strategy to underpin the peace process in Darfur and bring about socio-economic recovery and development. So far, the Mission has implemented more than 500 projects in all Darfur states and completed almost 350.