1500 people return home in Darfur, ask for more security

June 8, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Some 1500 returnees to a village in South Darfur met a peacekeeping official today, telling him that they would like more protection so that others can return home.

The villagers in Donki Dreisa, some 60 kilometers south of Nyala, met with UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho. An estimated 1500 residents have returned home to Donki Dreisa from various refugee camps in Darfur over the past month.

“Some of the returnees had lived away from the village for four years before returning home over the past month,” noted a press statement from UNAMID about the meeting, which took place between Anyidoho and several umdas (traditional leaders).

The returnees told the peacekeeping official that they and other internal refugees would like more protection so they can return to villages such as Donki Dreisa.

Overall the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Darfur rose throughout 2008 to over 1.4 million, according to figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs.

Additional displacements occurred in 2009, when fighting around Muhageria and other areas in February 2009 left over 45,000 people displaced, according to figures from UN partner organizations.

The migrations this year were accompanied by reports of burning of some houses, neighbourhoods and villages.

However, reports have suggested that Birgid tribesmen have been returning to the area after having fled in 2005 and 2006, even as Zaghawa people vacated South Darfur this year in tens of thousands.

The Deputy Joint Special Representative and the delegation also visited UNAMID troops stationed near Muhageria, the scene of deadly clashes earlier this year.

Today the UNAMID Deputy Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Duma Dumisani Mdutyana, visited the troops based near Zam Zam, the massively overcapacity camp that was the destination of most of those who fled in February 2009.

Mdutyana also visited Um Kadada, a town in North Darfur. The visits are designed to familiarize the new commander with the region since he assumed his duties at the end of last month. Earlier this week he travelled to El Geneina and Zalingei in West Darfur and met with troops stationed there.

(ST)