UK charity report: humanitarian situation in South Kordofan necessitates aid
By Toby Collins
February 11, 2012 (LONDON) – The UK-based Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) released a report on Friday detailing the repercussions of last month’s hijacking of Chinese construction workers in South Kordofan state for the civil population.
On February 5th the UN estimated 30,000 people have been displaced from Al-Abbasiya and the surrounding area.
SUDO listed 13 villages in the region as being “totally deserted” now. The internally displaced people (IDP) from these villages are now flooding into neighboring regions. The report details the changes in population; El Tomat has had the greatest influx, with more people than 3,600 people and Eldibaykaya more than 1,200. It estimates that more than 8,400 people have relocated to these 13 villages.
The great cause for concern is the capacity of these areas, which have seen their populations surge with IDPs, to accommodate them. None of the listed host areas have sufficient shelter or sanitation systems and only two of the nine villages have health clinics.
SUDO called upon the SPLM-N and the Sudanese army, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to end their attacks on civilians. It also urged the Sudanese government to provide aid and allow both domestic and international organisations to assist.
Khartoum strongly resisted international pressure to allow aid groups into rebel-held areas but later said it will allow some relief groups to resume work there under strict conditions.
Clashes between SPLM-N and SAF began in June 2011, reportedly, due to SAF attempting to forcibly disarm the South Sudanese contingent of the Joint Integrated Units and the contentious victory of Ahmed Haroun in the state’s gubernatorial election.
Haroun, a member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party, won the election against Abdul Aziz al-Hilu of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement amid allegations of vote-rigging. Al-Hilu is now vice chairman of the SPLM-N. Haroun is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Darfur, which borders South Kordofan.
Khartoum accuses South Sudan of backing rebels operating in North Sudan, an accusation which Juba denies and levels the converse against its neighbour.
(ST)