UN relief coordinator calls for more support in West Darfur
May 26, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Khardiata Lo N’Diaye has re-iterated the commitment of humanitarian partners to support thousands of people displaced by inter-communal violence in parts of Kereneik and Geneina in West Darfur State.
She made the remarks after leading delegation that visited Geneina.
“Humanitarian partners will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and support thousands of people who were displaced by violence and insecurity in parts of West Darfur over the past few weeks,” said N’Diaye.
The humanitarian coordinator, accompanied by the heads of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) visited a gathering site in Geneina hosting some of the people who were displaced from Kereneik since April, and a group of nomads outside of Geneina town, where they interacted with people displaced and affected by the conflict and heard their stories.
During the visit, the senior UN official also reminded all stakeholders of their international legal obligation to protect all civilians, and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, schools and water systems.
She urged all parties to the conflict to allow the free and safe movement of affected people in search of safety and assistance, while echoing previous calls for an in-depth and transparent investigation, the results of which should be made public and help to identify the perpetrators of the violence and bring them to justice.
During January-March 2022, humanitarian partners have reportedly provided 794,000 of the most vulnerable people in West Darfur with food and other forms of humanitarian assistance.
Fighting between Arab nomads and Masalit tribes took place from 22 – 25 April following the discovery of two deceased Arab nomads on 21 April near Hashaba village in Kereneik locality. The violence spilled over to Geneina locality and the security situation improved after the deployment of security forces in Kereneik town, and no fighting has since been reported.
According to the local authorities in Kereneik, an estimated 98,000 people have been displaced by the conflict while at least 165 people were reportedly killed and 136 injured during the clashes in the West Darfur area.
(ST)