By Tomas A. Granados, Prensa Latina
United Nations : UN authorities have expressed deep concern over the peace mission in Darfur’s inability to operate as an effective dissuasive force in the seriously violent panorama in that Sudanese province.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) ó needs to demonstrate it can help improving the life of Darfur locals or it will run the risk of losing its trustworthiness. ó
The joint contingent is in charge of protecting the civilian population trapped in the five year-long armed conflict between Darfur rebels and troops of the central government in Khartoum, as well as humanitarian aid operations for the over two million people displaced.
In practical terms, UNAMID cannot do much because it only has 9,000 soldiers of the 26,000 estimated to try to impose order in Darfur.
Besides that, it still lacks basic equipment like helicopters and land transport units, essential to operate effectively in a territory the size of France.
In a new report to the Security Council on UNAMID deployment in Darfur, the UN chief reiterated it is imperative the countries that pledged to send troops and equipment fulfil their promises at once.