AU and UNAMID officials discuss situation in Darfur’s Kalma

August 26, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, received the Deputy Joint Special Representative of the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Mohamed Yonis, on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to discuss the situation in Kalma displaced persons camp near Nyala, the AU executive body said.

Kalma, one of the largest camps in South Darfur, has been the scene of a standoff between the UNAMID and the Sudanese government, with officials including President Bashir calling for six camp leaders accused of triggering violence in the camp to be handed over the police.

Mohamed Yonis delivered to Ping a message sent from the AU-UN Joint Special Representative, Ibrahim Gambari, concerning the situation in Kalma IDPs camp, located near the capital of South Darfur Nyala, is one of the largest camps in the region.

According to African Union Commission (AUC) statement, the of over 90,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) has recently witnessed deadly violence between IDPs who support Abdel Wahid Al-Nur’s Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) who have so far refused to join Doha Peace Process and the smaller Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) who attended the talks.

Sudanese authorities barred humanitarian assistance to Kalma following the unrest, after six IDP leaders they accused of orchestrating the violence sought refuge at UNAMID.

At first, UNAMID strongly resisted demands to surrender the IDP leaders to the Sudanese authorities unless safeguards for their safety and treatment were made.

But on August 12, representatives of the six IDP leaders said that Gambari had threatened to hand them over to the Sudanese authorities if they refuse joint patrols by local police and peacekeepers. An allegation a UNAMID spokesman later denied.

In his briefing, Yonis emphasized the collaboration between the Government of Sudan and UNAMID in ensuring the safety and security of IDPs in Kalma. He noted the Mission’s commitment to maintaining calm and order in the camp.

The Chairperson urged UNAMID to continue working closely with the Government of Sudan in using peaceful means to resolve the situation. Ping Reiterated the African Union’s support for all efforts to resolve problems in the camp.

Earlier this month, the Governor of South Darfur State expressed his intention to relocate the camp saying it is being a ‘safe hide out for criminals fleeing justice.’

According to reports by the UN, more than 200,000 people have been killed in the Darfur conflict since 2003. The Sudanese government puts this figure at 10,000. The conflict has also displaced more than 2.5 million people.

(ST)