Darfur displaced to protest against delay of peacekeepers deployment
February 12, 2008 (EL GENEINA) — Darfur displaced said they will stage a three-day campaign in the different IDPs camps to protest against the delay in the deployment of international peacekeepers expressing fears that militias could attack them again.
Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesperson of Darfur displaced and refugees told Sudan Tribune that they plan to stage tomorrow a campaign of protest over the delay of the deployment of international peacekeepers in Darfur to protect the civilians in Darfur and eastern Chad.
Some 12,000 Sudanese who fled into Chad following Friday’s deadly attacks against three West Darfur towns remain in a precarious situation along the volatile border region. According to a UN assessment team unidentified armed groups are roaming around the area, and the security situation is particularly tense near Guereda.
Hussein, who showed solidarity with Darfur refugees in Chad, accused the government of military build-up in the region to attack further camps. He said the African troops, which work now under the UN-AU mission, are not able to protect them under the current conditions.
He said the government is gathering the Janjaweed militias in Tay Konja, Sarab Konj in West Darfur, adding that the militias are not far from the IDPs camp of Balous.
The displaced spokesperson further claimed that military aircrafts are landing in the area transporting weapons and ammunition to the Janjaweed.
“You can understand now why these people [IDP] fear attacks by the militias. Also do not forget that with the rejection of Chadian authorities to receive them, they feel abandoned by the international community.” Hussein said.
The spokesperson repeated his appeal to speed up the deployment of the peacekeepers warring that the live of displaced is at great risk.
The hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) was deployed at the start of the year to try to quell the violence and restore stability to the war-wracked and impoverished region on Sudan’s western flank.
International experts estimate that 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been driven from their homes since mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of neglect.
(ST)