Darfur displaced prevent census operations in the camps
April 22, 2008 (NYALA) — Darfur Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staged protests in the three states of the troubled western Sudan region to voice their opposition to the conduct of the fifth Sudan National population and housing Census. He added that they prevented the conduct of the census in the camps.
Hussein Abusharati, the spokesperson of Darfur displaced and refugees told Sudan Tribune that IDPs and refugees in the three states of Darfur and eastern Chad organised demonstrations to indicate their rejection of the fifth census while their region is in war and they are in camps.
“We fully reject this counting operation because there is no peace and we do not trust the outcome of this census.” He said. “People want security and to return to their villages before.” He added.
The spokesperson said the government must remove all the new elements that arrived recently to Darfur. He said that the census will legitimize them as Sudanese national inhabiting IDPs villages in the region.
Abusharati said that enumerators didn’t succeed to enter to the IDPs camps due to the opposition of the displaced.
“The census takers failed to conduct the counting in the camps even in Otash camp which is nearby the capital of southern Darfur Nyala they came with 20 vehicles but the IDPs prevented them.” He said.
He regretted the absence of the media to show the world how much they are determined to oppose this process.
Darfur states authorities today said the counting operations started in good conditions in the region. However the official SUNA reported that census conduct in Zalingi, West Darfur “faced some troubles” without elaborating.
Abusharati enumerated more than 20 IDPs camps and 11 refugee camps in eastern Chad where there were anti-census protests.
International observers have raised concerns that significant parts of Darfur and not just three percent as claimed by Khartoum will be excluded from the count owing to opposition from rebels.
(ST)