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	Youth for Peace and Development by United Nations News   Sept 2010   The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on young people around the world to take a stand for peace under the theme, Youth for Peace and Development.   This year, the International Day of Peace (IDP) falls within the same time period as a major summit on the Millennium Development Goals, the world’s largest anti-poverty campaign. The Summit will bring world leaders together at the United Nations in New York from 20 - 22 September.   In addition, the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 as International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. A campaign was launched by the UN in August to promote the ideals of respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions, and civilizations. Those are key elements that reinforce the foundations of a sustainable peace.   Youth, peace and development are closely interlinked: Peace enables development, which is critical in providing opportunities for young people, particularly those in countries emerging from conflict.   Healthy, educated youth are in turn crucial to sustainable development and peace. Peace, stability and security are essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at slashing poverty, hunger, disease, and maternal and child death by 2015.   The Secretary-General has recognized the incredible potential of youth which must be tapped to ensure these goals are met in their lifetimes.   Each year, the Secretary-General, his Messengers of Peace, the entire UN system and many individuals, groups and organizations around the world use the Day of Peace to engage in activities that contribute to ceasefires, end conflict, bridge cultural divides and create tolerance.   In June 2010, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace, calling on young people around the world to submit their stories via social media, detailing what they do for peace, a number of these stories can now be accessed at the link below. Visit the related web page
	UN relief chief urges unfettered access for aid workers in Darfur by John Holmes UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Sudan   22 October 2010   Deadly violence continues in Darfur, Ban says in latest report.   Although there have been substantially fewer clashes between parties to the conflict in Darfur, deadly fighting between communities in the war-ravaged Sudanese region continues, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a new report.   The 2 September attack by an unidentified group of armed men reportedly dressed in military-style uniforms on a market in the village of Tabarat reported killed nearly 40 people and injured 35 others. Some 3,000 people fled to a neighbouring village following the incident, and information points to a tribal dispute over the abduction of two Arab traders.   This, and violence in the Kalma and Hamadiya camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), is “indicative of the continuing fragility of the security situation,” Mr. Ban wrote in his latest report to the Security Council on the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).   Clashes between Government and rebel forces have destabilized some areas of Darfur, caused new displacements and impeded the delivery of humanitarian aid. “I call upon all belligerents to cease hostilities and join the peace process for the sake of the people they claim to represent,” the Secretary-General said.   The prevalence of small arms, competition over land and tension at water points are among the many reasons inter-communal clashes will continue in the future, the report warned. “Unless the Government disarms militias, enhances law and order by addressing impunity, invests in development, and resolves competing land claims, such fighting is likely to continue and could even become the primary source of insecurity and instability in Darfur.”   Mr. Ban pointed said.the peace process must be inclusive and broad-based to be successful. Some rebel groups and the Government has not yet shown a willingness to make sufficiently concessions to these parties, preventing negotiations from being inclusive.   “I therefore urge all the parties to enter into negotiations in good faith without delay and I call upon those Member States that have influence over them to strongly encourage them to do so,” the Secretary-General said. “Only a comprehensive and inclusive negotiated political settlement can bring about a credible cessation of hostilities and address the root causes of conflict in Darfur.”   UNAMID was established by the Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.   23 August 2010   The top United Nations humanitarian official has urged all parties to the conflict in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur to ensure that humanitarian workers are free of harassment and intimidation as they endeavour to help those in need.   In his last briefing to the Security Council as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted that the humanitarian situation in the area is steadily deteriorating this year due to resumed clashes between Government forces and rebels, as well as stepped up tribal fighting.   “The level of restrictions imposed on humanitarian operations, and of harassment, threats and violence directed at humanitarian personnel, is once again becoming unacceptable,” he stressed.“All this render the civilians we are trying to help even more vulnerable.”   Mr. Holmes pointed to the recent politically-driven deadly violence over the Darfur peace process in Kalma camp, one of the largest sites sheltering people uprooted by fighting. Thousands of Kalma’s residents have had their lives disrupted, forcing many to flee, hampering the delivery of humanitarian services.   “This situation was further aggravated when local authorities denied NGOs [non-governmental organizations] and UN agencies access to the camp for 15 days after 1 August, amid suggestions that they wanted to get rid of the camp altogether,” the official said. This move prevented a proper assessment of the humanitarian situation and prevented camp residents from receiving aid.   Six NGOs and UN agencies were allowed to deliver medicines and fuel to power water pumps in the camp on 16 August, shortly after intense dialogue between the world body and Sudanese authorities.   Of the 82,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kalma before the violence broke out, aid organizations and state authorities found that between 50,000 to 60,000 camp inhabitants remained, and they have also began drawing up an action plan to respond to gaps and to help the uprooted, wherever they may now be.   The current situation in the camp is reported to be calm, Mr. Holmes said, largely due to around-the-clock patrols carried out by the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID.   “This underscores the vital importance of UNAMID’s mandate on the protection of the civilian population and of the close cooperation between the humanitarian community and the mission,” he said, adding that the situation is tense and fragile, with Government talk of moving IDPs out of Kalma and dismantling the camp ongoing. 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