UN say working to move refugees away from Sudans’ restive border

November 21, 2011 – A UN refugee agency said last week that it was working despite difficulties, to move Sudanese civilians to safer areas after the increase of violence on the Sudan–South Sudan border.

Sudanese warplanes recently bombed refugee camps inside the South Sudanese border after attacks carried by the fighters of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North on its troops in a location called Taloudi.

The rebel South Sudan Liberating Army (SSLA) operating in the area intensified attacks on the South Sudanese army and pledged more violence in the region. However, between 60 to 200 refugees continue to arrive on daily basis from the South Kordofan, according to the UN agencies.

“We have prepared a site for them further south in Unity state, but the refugees are reluctant to move as they are worried about family members still in Southern Kordofan and prefer to stay closer to their homes,” said Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), last Friday.

The UNHCR spokesperson nonetheless stressed they would move those who accept to be relocated in the new camp, “as soon as roads affected by heavy rainfall become passable again.”

She pointed out that landmines on the roads in Unity state also hamper their efforts to relocate Sudanese refugees from Yida which was bombed recently by the Sudan.

Sudan said the camps near the border are the home of SPLM-N combatants and there is no refugees there. Khartoum accuses Juba on daily basis of supporting the rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Moreover, Fleming said some 1,200 refugees are arriving every day from the Blue Nile, and between 5,000 and 7,000 refugees are believed be in the border area.

The Sudanese army, on 3 November, seized the last rebel stronghold of Kurmuk near the border with Ethiopia and not far from the border with the South Sudan.

SSLA say attacks are postponed.

The South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) rebels have announced they will postpone their planned attack in Unity state. On 19 November, they told Sudan Tribune they have rescheduled the offensive for December.

“Due to the appeal of UNHCR [UN Refugee Agency],” state the SSLA, they have postponed the attack planned for 21 November, in order for refugees from South Kordofan to be relocated.

The SSLA announced earlier their intention to attack Benitu, the state capital, as part of ‘Operation Ending Corruption.’

(ST)