UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed its concern over the outstanding challenges in Darfur while welcoming improvements in its security and humanitarian situation.
In a presidential statement, presented by Kairat Umarov, Council President for January, the 15-member organ cited in particular the challenge of ensuring sustainable solutions for Darfur's 2.7 million internally displaced persons, calling among other things for enhancing cooperation between the Government of Sudan and the international community in search of dignified and durable solutions for such persons.
Notwithstanding a significant decrease in intercommunal conflicts, the Council said it was concerned that such incidents remained a source of violence in Darfur.
While the overall security situation had improved, there had been no commensurate reduction in the level of human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, it said.
Six years after the adoption of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, the people of Darfur had yet to fully benefit from it, said the Council, reiterating its support for that agreement as a viable framework for the peace process.
It also welcomed the signing of an African Union High-Level Implementation Panel road map by the Government and armed movements and urged them to make immediate progress on its implementation.
Turning to African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the Council said it was still too early to reach conclusions of the full impact of phase one of its reconfiguration, which was authorized in its resolution 2363 (2017).
It requested that UNAMID and the United Nations country team closely monitor the reconfiguration's impact on the ground and to promptly report back on any adverse effects.
It welcomed the Government's consent on Jan. 8 to the opening of a temporary UNAMID base in Golo, Jebel Marra, that would support humanitarian efforts and the protection of civilians, as well as the Government's launch of a weapons - collection program throughout Darfur, which was reportedly helping to improve security beyond state capitals.
In that regard, it said the weapons collection campaign must take place alongside comprehensive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
With phase two of UNAMID's reconfiguration due to begin on Jan. 31, the Council said it supported a recommendation by the chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General for a review, prior to the renewal of UNAMID's mandate in June, that would consider a new mission concept with adjusted priorities reflective of trends and the situation on the ground.
It requested a written report in that regard by Jun. 1 that would include, among other things, an evaluation of progress made during phase two and of the Government' s cooperation with the Mission.
