Darfur IDPs say concerned by Sudan-Chad deal to return refugees
July 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) –The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) voiced their deep concern over a deal to return Sudanese refugees from the neighbouring Chad to Darfur saying necessary security and humanitarian conditions not yet met.
On 27 July Sudan announced the signing of an agreement with Chad and the UNHCR on voluntary return of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad camps, following the signing of a peace agreement with the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement in Doha on 14 July.
“We are deeply concerned by the recent agreement sealed between Sudanese and Chadian governments to return our refugees from eastern Chad to Darfur,” said Hussein Abu Sharati, Darfur IPDs and refugees spokesperson.
Abu Sharati contested the deal stressing that no real improvement in the security conditions in the region “the civilians continue to be killed by the air strikes and the janjaweed militias,” he said adding “even within the camps people now fear the security agents who are everywhere”.
He further said the humanitarian conditions in IDPs camps are very poor. “the residents of Darfur camps lack shelter, healthy water and medication.” Adding “how they intend to return them and nothing is prepared to receive them”.
Following the signing of the tripartite agreement on the voluntary return of Darfurians Sudan’s Commissioner for Refugees Mohamed Ahmed Alagbash said the amelioration of bilateral relations with Chad and signing of Doha agreement created good environment for the return of the refugees.
He further stressed that the voluntary return should be completed in three steps, starting with briefing the refugees on the process and providing them with the necessary support to prepare it. After what starts the registration and a timetable for the effective return is determined.
Sudan and Chad who normalized bilateral ties and deployed a joint force to patrol the border signed different political, economic and security agreements to enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries after some five years of proxy war.
China also agreed to fund a 2 billion road linking the two country.
Two days ago, the Chadian rebel National Alliance for Change and Democracy (ANCD) said Sudanese authorities handed 27 rebels over to Ndjamena where they are now arrested and tortured.
Since 2010 the UNHCR shifted its operational mode from an emergency mode to care and maintenance. The eastern Chad camps were a subject of big concern and polemic over the situation of refugees there.
Sudan accused the rebel groups of recruiting children from the camps with the tacit support of the Chadian authorities and the aid groups. In turn, Sudan was accused of attacking the camps and killing civilians.
The camps also were the destination of Hollywood actors to show their solidarity with Darfur people and officers of the International Criminal Court who successfully collected some valuable eyewitness testimonies before to indict Sudanese officials including President Omer Al-Bashir of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
(ST)