Nile River State evacuates IDP from schools and shelters in Atbara

May 2, 2024 (ATBARA) – Authorities in Nile River State, northern Sudan, have intensified efforts to remove displaced persons from schools and shelters in the city of Atbara.

Over the past two days, evacuations have taken place at Al-Humaira and Badr schools in the Al-Hasaya neighbourhood. Displaced people have been directed to Village 6 in the Al-Manasir area.

Sources within Atbara, which shelters a large displaced population, report that authorities also expelled residents from the “Al-Surour Al-Saflalawi” boarding house on Thursday.

A woman who resided there confirmed receiving a one-month eviction notice from authorities, followed by forced removal by police and security personnel.

Displaced people residing in various schools, including teachers, reported receiving letters from local authorities demanding they vacate the premises. The options presented were relocation to Village 6 or facing unspecified consequences.

However, Hassan Omar, the local media director, maintains that authorities have made arrangements for the displaced persons previously residing in the Al-Surour Al-Saflalawi boarding house. He claims buses are prepared to transport them to new housing in Village 6, where each family will have a “legitimate house” with privacy.

Hassan justifies the move by citing poor living conditions and lack of privacy within the boarding house. He emphasizes the local government’s efforts to prepare housing in Village 6.

Unnamed sources in Atbara allege that authorities plan to accommodate medical, engineering, and computer science students from Nile Valley University, along with students from Khartoum colleges who previously rented space in the boarding house.

According to statistics obtained by Sudan Tribune, Nile River State currently houses 288 displacement centres within Atbara city alone. These include 95 centres in schools, 52 associations, and 4 sports clubs.

An additional 17,000 displaced families reside in the city of Berber, many in school and association shelters.

According to a February 23rd report by the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, Nile River State is estimated to host 11% of Sudan’s total internally displaced population.