"UNAMID is nearing full deployment, with 88% of military personnel, 70% of Police, including 13 out of 19 Formed Police Units, and 75% of civilian personnel in theatre" Gambari said today.

The UNAMID chief further said that UNAMID has been able to expand its patrols both in number and range throughout the three Darfur States on average more than 100 patrols per day.

Gambari said that the security situation remains dire and that it has not improved since his last briefing particularly because of clashes between JEM and Khartoum.

"Government forces have been able to dislodge JEM from their traditional stronghold in Jebel Moon, West Darfur, the Adula Mountains in South Darfur, as well as disrupt their main supply routes to El Fasher and Nyala. Of late, JEM convoys have been sighted in North Darfur moving northwards, possibly towards the Libyan border. The resumption in fighting was accompanied by JEM withdrawal from the peace talks in Doha" he said.

"In an apparent attempt to take advantage of the Government’s military engagement with JEM, the Abdul Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Army attacked Sudanese Armed Forces positions in the Jebel Marra area around 29 May. This led to sporadic fighting between the two parties, civilian casualties and the displacement of several communities".

The Nigerian diplomat emphasized the sharp rise in attacks against UNAMID and humanitarian personnel.

"UNAMID peacekeepers were attacked on 28 occasions, resulting in 10 dead and 26 injured. We have also seen two instances of kidnapping of UNAMID personnel and 6 cases involving humanitarian colleagues. In the most recent event, on 21 June, armed men in military fatigues attacked UNAMID troops guarding a construction site in Nertiti, West Darfur. In the exchange of fire, three UNAMID military personnel from Rwanda as well as three attackers lost their lives" he said.