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Darfur force 'failing civilians' Darfur force 'failing civilians'
(about 10 hours later)
African aid agencies say the African-UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region is failing to provide adequate protection for civilians.African aid agencies say the African-UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region is failing to provide adequate protection for civilians.
A report published by a group of mainly African relief and advocacy groups, the Darfur Consortium, said the force was too small and inadequately funded.A report published by a group of mainly African relief and advocacy groups, the Darfur Consortium, said the force was too small and inadequately funded.
The force commander told the BBC that the report touched on vital issues, but that people expected too much.The force commander told the BBC that the report touched on vital issues, but that people expected too much.
The five-year-old Darfur conflict has left some 300,000 people dead.The five-year-old Darfur conflict has left some 300,000 people dead.
The joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid) was set up after the United Nations Security Council promised protection to some four million people caught up in the war between the Sudanese government and rebels.The joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid) was set up after the United Nations Security Council promised protection to some four million people caught up in the war between the Sudanese government and rebels.
But UN peacekeeping department spokesman Nick Birnback told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that member states had not given the force the resources it needed to operate in a large and inhospitable region.But UN peacekeeping department spokesman Nick Birnback told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that member states had not given the force the resources it needed to operate in a large and inhospitable region.
"It's an entirely unsatisfactory situation overall," he said. "It's one that the United Nations wishes was different and is actively working to try to change.""It's an entirely unsatisfactory situation overall," he said. "It's one that the United Nations wishes was different and is actively working to try to change."
Among the resources the force lacks are helicopters with which to reach Darfur.Among the resources the force lacks are helicopters with which to reach Darfur.
"We just simply do not have the aviation assets that we have been asking for since the mandate of the mission was passed," Mr Birnback said."We just simply do not have the aviation assets that we have been asking for since the mandate of the mission was passed," Mr Birnback said.
Basic equipmentBasic equipment
Sudan has always Khartoum insisted that Africans should make up the bulk of the peacekeepers. Sudan has always insisted that Africans should make up the bulk of the peacekeepers.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says most of the troops came from an earlier underfunded solely African force and the hope was that UN involvement would improve logistics.The BBC's Mark Doyle says most of the troops came from an earlier underfunded solely African force and the hope was that UN involvement would improve logistics.
The Darfur consortium says Unamid is "in danger of becoming the world's latest broken promise" in the region.The Darfur consortium says Unamid is "in danger of becoming the world's latest broken promise" in the region.
It says that six months after the mission began, only about a third of the 26,000 personnel promised had been deployed.It says that six months after the mission began, only about a third of the 26,000 personnel promised had been deployed.
It also says the mission is still critically short of basic equipment such as helicopters and armoured vehicles.It also says the mission is still critically short of basic equipment such as helicopters and armoured vehicles.
Some of the soldiers from the former African force were so badly supplied that they were reduced to putting blue plastic bags over their helmets to indicate that they now worked for the UN, the report says.Some of the soldiers from the former African force were so badly supplied that they were reduced to putting blue plastic bags over their helmets to indicate that they now worked for the UN, the report says.
The report added that the soldiers who had deployed could do much better by, for example, mounting regular foot patrols in camps or consistently protecting women who collect firewood from the risk of rape by militiamen.The report added that the soldiers who had deployed could do much better by, for example, mounting regular foot patrols in camps or consistently protecting women who collect firewood from the risk of rape by militiamen.
The report cites several instances when Unamid soldiers observed violence against civilians without acting against it, and said commanders were inconsistent in interpreting the mission's mandate.The report cites several instances when Unamid soldiers observed violence against civilians without acting against it, and said commanders were inconsistent in interpreting the mission's mandate.
The report also accuses the Sudanese government of blocking key deployments, and says rich countries have not given the peacekeepers enough equipment.The report also accuses the Sudanese government of blocking key deployments, and says rich countries have not given the peacekeepers enough equipment.
Logistical constraintsLogistical constraints
Unamid commander Gen Martin Luther Agwai greeted the report's recognition that the force was short of critical resources, saying that people had had unrealistic expectations.Unamid commander Gen Martin Luther Agwai greeted the report's recognition that the force was short of critical resources, saying that people had had unrealistic expectations.
"If really you have an organisation that lacks critical resources and you expect that force to do magic then I think you are not being fair to the force," he told the BBC."If really you have an organisation that lacks critical resources and you expect that force to do magic then I think you are not being fair to the force," he told the BBC.
He said many people had overlooked logistical constraints including delays at Sudan's single sea port, and the large distance from the port to the area of operation in Darfur across land routes that are unusable during the rainy season.He said many people had overlooked logistical constraints including delays at Sudan's single sea port, and the large distance from the port to the area of operation in Darfur across land routes that are unusable during the rainy season.
"People thought that things would work faster and better but the reality from the ground does not translate that way.""People thought that things would work faster and better but the reality from the ground does not translate that way."
But he also rejected concerns that the mission was doomed to fail, saying that it had the backing of the UN and the AU.But he also rejected concerns that the mission was doomed to fail, saying that it had the backing of the UN and the AU.
"I'm not sure the United Nations and the African Union would want to fail because if they do, the whole world would fail. So based on that, I am optimistic.""I'm not sure the United Nations and the African Union would want to fail because if they do, the whole world would fail. So based on that, I am optimistic."
Khartoum says the scale of the violence and suffering has been exaggerated by the west for political reasons.Khartoum says the scale of the violence and suffering has been exaggerated by the west for political reasons.
It denies charges that it organised the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population.It denies charges that it organised the Arab Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population.
The conflict began in 2003 when rebel groups took up arms, complaining that the area was being marginalised by the national government.The conflict began in 2003 when rebel groups took up arms, complaining that the area was being marginalised by the national government.