After
5 Shells on
Kadugli, No UN
Comment on
Civilian
Casualties
or Mandate
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 8 --
When the UN is
asked by the
Press about
armed
conflict and
death on
Southern
Kordofan, its
spokesperson
routinely
says the UN
has no access
and cannot
confirm.
But after up
to five
shells hits
Kadulgi and
Inner City
Press asked
about the
effects and
for any UN
comment,
spokesman
Martin Nesirky
replied that
there were
no reported
injuries to UN
staff. Video
here, from
Minute 2:07.
What about
civilians?
Inner
City Press
asked, is it
that the
UNICEF, World
Food Program
and
UNISFA
personnel in
Southern
Kordofan are
not allowed to
confirm --
if not try to
prevent --
deaths of
civilians? It
appears they
take a
different
approach than
they do in
Syria and
elsewhere.
Nesirky
replied
that obviously
there are
parts of
Southern
Kordofan were
the
humanitarian
needs are most
acute where
the UN has no
access.
Yes,
those are the
areas still
unserved under
the Tripartite
Agreement.
But what about
Kadugli where
the UN
acknowledged
having staff,
even
Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations
personnel?
What are these
people's and
DPKO's
mandate?
DPKO chief
Herve Ladsous
refuses to
answer any
Press
questions --
ironically,
due to
questions
about how
he does, or
doesn't do,
his job.
Also
at Monday's
noon briefing,
Inner City
Press asked
about a
report, on
the Internet,
of a public
letter to
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon
about DPKO's
Congo mission
not protecting
civilians.
Nesirky said
he
was not aware
of the letter.
Is DPKO? What
is their and
Ladsous'
response?
Watch this
site.