UN concerned about civilians safety in Darfur towns of Muhajiriya and Labado

April 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Ali al-Zaatari, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, expressed his deep concern about the safety of civilians caught in fighting between the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Muhajiriya and Labado areas in eastern Darfur state.

Zaatari said that around 36,000 civilians have gathered around the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) bases in the two areas, pointing out that reports received by the UN showed the outbreak of diarrhea among children who are in need of urgent and immediate assistance.

The UN official explained in a press statement that humanitarian organizations are currently unable to reach affected civilians in Muhajiriya and Labado or verify their numbers and exact situation.

“However, more than 300 people who managed to arrive at a camp for displaced people near the capital of West Darfur, Ed Daein, are receiving urgent assistance and can access water sources and health facilities” he said.

The UN official urged all parties to immediately allow access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians especially women and children and enable humanitarian teams to assess situation of the affected and provide them with the necessary relief supplies. He appealed to the Sudanese government and SLM-MM to assume their responsibilities towards the civilian population stressing the need to allow civilians to move safely out of the affected areas.

Earlier this month, SLM-MM took control of Muhajiriya and Labado towns in East Darfur.

Last week, the Sudanese minister of defense, Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, who spoke at a hearing before members of the national assembly, pledged to recapture Muhajiriya and Labado areas.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

The United Nations estimates as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million people have been displaced during the ongoing conflict in the region, however, the Sudanese government put the number of dead at only 10,000.

While violence is down from its peak in 2003 and 2004, new fighting has forced more than 130,000 people to flee their homes since the start of the year, according to the United Nations.

(ST)