Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the Inner City to Wall Street to the United Nations

At UN, Darfur and Kalma Camp Belatedly Discussed, No Rice, No Understanding? Elements to the Press Expected, Not on Relocation

UNITED NATIONS, August 23 -- After weeks of starvation of the Kalma Camp in Darfur, the Security Council took up the matter for a second time on Monday morning. Weeks ago, Alain Le Roy of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was charged with coming to a “full understanding of the facts” of violence in the Kalma Camp.

But no understanding of any kind, much less a full one, has yet been announced. Nor, it seems, has either the UK or US sufficiently planned for an outcome of the Monday meeting. A non Permanent Five member's spokesperson, on the way into the meeting, said that informal polling showed a lack of support for even “elements to the press.”

US Permanent Representative Susan Rice was noticeably absent -- or AWOL -- while Sudan's new Permanent Representative worked the crowd. He promised to do a stakeout Q&A about not only the Kalma Camp, which South Darfur authorities now seek to close down and split in two, but also about “the new strategy.” This refers to Khartoum looking away from the so called Doha process, which neither the JEM nor Abdul Wahid faction rebels are taking part in.

For the briefing on Kalma Camp, outgoing humanitarian chief John Holmes and DPKO's deputy Atul Khare walked into the Council. DPKO's spokesman told Inner City Press that UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky had been given a written update on Kalma before the August 20 noon briefing. But Nesirky did not read out the update, apparently only willing to do so in response to a question.

Khare in the Council, Susan Rice, UN update and understanding not shown

With his announced regime of limiting questions, this becomes more problematic -- and emblematic, too, the UN Secretariat's seeming cover up of civilian suffering. Watch this space.

Update of 11:30 a.m. -- Not only Sudan's new Permanent Representative, but now the UN's Atul Khare as well, will be doing stake outs.

Update of 11:56 A.M. -- Inner City Press asked Sudan's Perm Rep six questions and will write them up later. Sources tell Inner City Press there WILL be an "elements to the press" after the meeting, calling for humanitarian access, supporting UNAMID. But nothing on the relocation of the Kalma camp.

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In Darfur as Kalma Camp Faces Closure and IDP Sorting, UN Spokesman & DPKO Silent, OCHA in Sudan Concerned

UNITED NATIONS, August 22 -- In South Darfur the Kalma Camp, which the Sudanese government blockaded and starved for two weeks with surprising little said by the UN, is now slated to be closed, officials said over the weekend.

  The remaining residents, estimated by the UN at 50,000, will be separated into two camps in Bileel. Some wonder from past practices if the governmental sorting will be along political or ethnic lines, presaging further blockages and attacks on internally displaced persons.

On August 20, Inner City Press asked the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations for its update on the Kalma Camp. DPKO said it had provided an update that day, and every recent day, to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky for his noon press briefing.

  But Nesirky has decided to only provide the Darfur information if he allows a question on the topic; later on August 20 he chided Inner City Press to not tell him about rules or asking questions. “It is my briefing,” he said.

  Contacted again on August 22, DPKO still did not provide the update it gave Nesirky on August 20, but said it would do so on August 23.

Thus Inner City Press reached out to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesman in Sudan, Samuel Hendricks, who provided the following update:

Subject: Re: Press request re Kalma Camp
From: Samuel Hendricks at UN.org
To: Inner City Press
Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 2:31 PM

Mr. Lee,

Thanks for your message. Latest info on Kalma as follows... Estimate of current camp population thus remains around 50,000; location of many Kalma residents remains unconfirmed... Motorized water pumps are functioning; fuel shipment will be needed in coming days, NGO will seek permission to transport.

Food distribution in neighboring Bileil camp for Kalma IDPs still awaiting provision of list from camp leaders (sheikhs); distribution contingent on proof of Kalma residence (ie, ration cards).

Regarding the issue of closure/movement of Kalma camp: Local media has reported Gov't identifying new site for Kalma IDPs. Humanitarian Team (UN and NGOs) in South Darfur will meet to discuss issue of proposed new site, as there are various implications. The UN cannot support any movement of IDPs that is not voluntary or otherwise appropriate.

Kids in Darfur between two UN vehicles, "don't tell me about rules"

 Until such a time as a suitable location and facilities are established, and decision reached on movements in full consultation with IDP community of the camp, IDPs in Kalma camp should continue to have access to humanitarian assistance as required.

  But will this statement of UN principle be implemented by DPKO and envoy Ibrahim Gambari? The government is already claiming that the NGOs have approved the new sites, and the sorting process.

  IDPs continue to insist that Gambari threatened to turn six of them over to Sudanese authorities if they did not agree to government patrols of the camps. The UN denies this. We'll see. Watch this site.

As Sudan Expels UN Officials from Darfur for Rape Detection, UN Silent, Menkerios One Year & Out, Gration's Khartoum Jaunt

UNITED NATIONS, August 18 -- As in West Darfur UN officials are being expelled for distributing rape detection equipment and collecting signatures on an anti-hunger petition, the UN in New York insists on saying nothing, trying desperately to ingratiate itself to Sudanese authorities.

After a spokesman for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization confirmed the expulsion of its official for circulating the petition on hunger, Inner City Press asked the Spokesman for Ban Ki-moon about this, and the expulsion of other UN officials for conducting research into rape in Darfur. Video here, from Minute 17:41.

Nesirky insisted, contrary to the FAO confirmation, that the UN has “still received no official notification,” is still speaking with the government and “can't say any more.”

But doesn't this reflect a split of the UN Secretariat from from FAO, which confirms the expulsions? Nesirky pointed back at his own answer, that he “can't say anymore.” Can't or won't?

Ironically, Nesirky moderated an August 6 press conference by Margot Wallstrom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, at which Ms. Wallstrom said that Sudan would be a major focus of her offices since rape by “men in uniform” is widespread there. Video here.

How can the UN work on the issue of rape in Sudan it is lets its personnel be expelled for distributing rape detection equipment, and then refuses to defend them or even speak about the case?

UN's Ban and Wallstrom on rape, comment on Sudan expulsions not shown

Inner City Press also asked if the UN is facilitating or helping the visit to Sudan by US Envoy Scott Gration. While some said with this trip Gration would be addressing his perceived disinterested in Darfur, now this trip is reported to be mostly about the North - South conflict and the referendum.

So who in the UN would be facilitating his trip -- Haile Menkerios, the head of the UN Misssion in Sudan? Earlier this week, Inner City Press asked Nesirky's acting deputy Farhan Haq to confirm that Menkerios only went to Sudan begrudgingly, with a deal to come back to New York and his Department of Political Affairs job in at most one year.  Video here, near end.

  That is the informal understanding, Haq said. What does this say about the UN's commitment to protecting civilians in Sudan?

Another joke making that rounds is that while Sudan may throw out the UNAMID mission, it would allow UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari to stay. Others say Gambari, despite all odds, may have his eye on the top post in his native Nigeria. We'll see.