No other significant incidents were reported during the past 24 hours. UNAMID continues to conduct 24/7 patrols in and around the camps and villages.

This is the first of a series of 23 workshops.

The meeting was attended by the United Nations Undersecretary-General for Field Support, Ms. Susana Malcorra, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Head of the African Union Liaison Office in Sudan, Ambassador Mahmoud Kane, and UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

The Government of Sudan delegation was headed by Mr. Rahamatallah Mohamed Osman, Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lt. General Magzoub Rahma al Badawi, Ministry of Defense.

The meeting deliberated on arrangements and substance for the Tripartite Mechanism meeting scheduled to take place on 27 September in New York, on the periphery of the Secretary-General’s high level meeting on Sudan, and also discussed other issues related to the deployment of UNAMID, security strategies for Darfur, as well as the situation in the IDP camps.

The meeting reaffirmed the Government and UNAMID as the principal partners in efforts to address insecurity in Darfur.

The participants welcomed the improvement in coordination and cooperation between UNAMID and the Government of Sudan and called for continued commitment by all parties in this regard.

A further three inhabitants of the Hamadiya internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Zalingei, West Darfur, have died as a result of injuries sustained during a firefight in the camp on 3 and 4 September. The development brings the number of fatalities to nine and injured to more than 20. UNAMID had intensified its presence throughout the area, including the use of night patrols.

Shortly before midnight on 3 September, reports were received that a firefight broke out in the Hamadiya internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Zalingei, West Darfur. The shooting ceased at approximately 08:00 hours on 4 September. A UNAMID military team dispatched to assess the situation was told by IDP leaders that six of the inhabitants had been killed and over 20 injured. UNAMID sent three military medical personnel to the camp to treat the wounded and reinforced its presence in the area.

In a further incident, at 18:00 hours on 2 September, UNAMID’s team site in Tawilla, located 45 kilometers west of El Fasher, North Darfur, received information that at approximately 16:30 hours the same day, an unidentified armed group attacked a busy marketplace in the village of Tabarat, located 32 kilometers southwest of Tawilla. The incident left more than 50 dead and a large number injured. The motives of the attackers are not clear at this stage.

The meetings, which were held in Darfur’s three states, provided inputs on several thematic areas including women’s participation in peace negotiations and peace agreements, as well as in the political process and governance structures in Darfur.

Mr. Gambari briefed Ms. Ezekwesili on progress achieved on the priority areas he identified on arrival to the Mission and sought the assistance of the World Bank for development projects in Darfur in order to ensure that the ‘dividends of peace are made evident’ for the promotion of a durable peace in Darfur.

The JSR further informed that while UNAMID would not compromise on its core mandate of protection, security, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, it would, nevertheless, explore measures to support the UN Country Team and other partners, by virtue of its presence on the ground, in early recovery and development, in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1935 Para. 16.

The Vice President emphasized the primary responsibility of the World Bank in improving the quality of life for citizens, particularly in poverty reduction. She pledged the assistance of the institution to the Sudan in this regard. She stated that US $4.2 million was available from the Peace Fund that could be stretched to cover Darfur. She, however, noted that the security situation in Darfur would present a challenge for the World Bank.

It was agreed that the World Bank and UNAMID will continue to explore available opportunities in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, for early recovery and development for Darfur.

The situation in Kalma internally displaced persons (IDP) camp remains generally calm with UNAMID patrols reporting no shooting or arson over the past 24 hours.

The IDPs have appealed for food distribution to be extended to cover the entire camp. The market of the camp was observed to be operating normally and the residents reported that the situation is better as compared to last week.

During the meeting the Mission called upon all camp leaders to reconcile their differences in the interest of the IDPs, to live in peace and receive humanitarian assistance.