Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief

10 Jan 2011 13:28 Africa/Lagos


Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief

EL FASHER (DARFUR), January 10, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2011-01-09


Update on security situation

UNAMID reports that on 7 January, a Sudanese national working for CARE International was killed by unknown assailants in an apparent robbery in Graida, a town located roughly 80 kilometers southeast of Nyala, South Darfur. Government authorities are investigating the matter.


Deliveries of food aid have reached newly displaced persons in Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur, after fighting between rebel movements and government troops caused mass displacements in North and South Darfur.


Meanwhile, as voting begins on South Sudan's self-determination, Darfur's 20 polling centers have reported no significant security incidents. Over 23,000 South Sudanese are registered to cast their ballots in the region.


UNAMID patrols

UNAMID military conducted 108 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 70 villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.


UNAMID police advisors conducted 94 patrols in villages and IDP camps.



Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)


10 Jan 2011
13:38 Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the eve of Southern Sudan's Referendum on self-determination, 9-15 January 2011
13:30 EAC referendum observer mission in Southern Sudan
13:28 Darfur / UNAMID Daily Media Brief
13:26 Joint Statement of the International referendum observation missions in the Sudan
13:19 Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Sudan / Start of the Southern Sudan referendum
13:13 Secretary Clinton on Start of Southern Sudan Referendum
13:11 Ambassador Rice on Start of Voting in Southern Sudan
13:07 President Obama on Start of Voting in Southern Sudan
9 Jan 2011
17:02 Sudan Honors its Commitment: Historic Referendum on Schedule
7 Jan 2011
18:08 Italian Foreign Minister Frattini meets with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmed Kharti.
17:42 MTV Joins with George Clooney, Google, the United Nations and Others to Help Deter War in Sudan
14:20 UN Security Council Press Statement on Southern Sudan Referendum
14:09 Rwanda / Prosecutor requests 33 and 12 years in jail for two women journalists
13:01 Near-verbatim Transcript of the Press Conference by Mr. David Gressly the Regional Coordinator for Southern Sudan
12:54 USA / Media Note on Special Envoy Gration's Travel to Sudan
12:47 Communiqué by the Afro Arab Ministerial Committee on Darfur
04:59 Darfur / UNAMID Joint Special Representative Addresses Mission Staff, Sets Priorities for 2011
04:57 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay urges authorities to respect citizens' rights before, during and after Sudan referendum




Monday, January 10, 2011

Dear Aisha, It started yesterday in Juba




Dear Aisha,
It started yesterday.
One of the most prophetic Sundays in Southern Sudan, but will the skies no longer be gloomy in Darfur?
I know that David must be happy for you.




The lanky Senator John Kerry and George “the debonair” Clooney were there. They flew all the way from America to witness the making of history. The week-long independence referendum to free your people of the south from the shackles Khartoum. They joined the crowds sweating in the heat of the Sunday sun. January 9, 2011, will be an unforgettable day in the history of southern Sudan.


Nobody seemed tired of standing in the long queues as they were waiting to cast their votes in the last leg of the long march to freedom.
The harrowing nightmares of the horrifying and terrifying years of the rampaging devils on horsebacks will no longer haunt your people?


Dr. Halima Bashir will no more drink from the pool of the tears of the desert and the sleepless nights of Daoud Hari The Translator of the years of the wrath of the Janjaweed of Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir will no longer linger?


For the vultures will no longer be overfed with the carcasses of your people littering the ravine of Jebel Marra, because their corpses will no longer be left unburied.


“This is the moment the people have been waiting for,” said Southern president Salva Kiir as he was rejoicing in Juba yesterday.


Omar Bashir is kicking and cursing, because he has lost the battle and his northern region will be dependent on the over 75% of oil in the south and hoping he will not siphon it as it passes the northern pipeline to the sea.


But will the referendum will bring succor to Darfur?
Not until the rest of the world can read the secret letters from Darfur.
The testimonies of the agonies of the bereaved ones who have been scarred for life from the Massaleet to the Zagawa communities in the land of the Fur


May the overflowing joys of the new dawn wash away the ashes of the sorrows of the past. For the people of Juba shall be redeemed like the children of Judah.

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.


~ Joel 2:18-27 (King James Version)