IDPs attacked in South Darfur en route to Dereige camp
May 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Displaced civilians on their way to Dereige camp in South Darfur were attacked by an unidentified armed group on 16 May, according to UK-based advocacy group the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO).
In a statement, SUDO UK says members of the armed gang threatened to kill their civilian hostages unless a 6,000 Sudanese pound ransom was paid.
The group were en route from Muhajriyia to the South Darfur capital, Nyala, when the incident occurred.
The civilians were eventually freed after the driver managed to collect the sum from various sources.
SUDO UK condemned the attack, calling on the Sudanese government and the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to take responsibility for the protection of civilians in the war-torn western Sudan region.
It has also urged the Sudanese government to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
The latest attack follows a separate incident on 8 May, in which an armed group attacked a lorry carrying civilians between Nyala and Um Dawan Ban, resulting in the deaths of an unconfirmed number of people from the Rezeigat and Fallata ethnic groups, including a woman.
The group says a recent wave of tribal conflicts in the restive region, as well as clashes between rebel groups and the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and their allied militias has displaced some 200,000 people in South and East Darfur during the past three months.
“There is very little assistance being provided to those displaced persons in terms of shelter and food. Many camps suffer from the lack of health services and even when facilities exist they are very poor, lacking medicines and medical staff”, SUDO UK said in a separate statement on Sunday.
“In addition, the rainy season is just a month away and those who have [been] displaced will not be able to cultivate [crops]. This will result in a very large food gap and serious shortages”, the statement added.
SUDO UK said the recent conflicts highlight the failure of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), the Darfur Development Strategy (DDS) and UNAMID attempts to achieve peace and reconciliation in Darfur.
It has called on UNAMID to play a more proactive role, including boosting its patrols, to make areas safe for civilians to return home and cultivate their crops.
“Where displaced persons fear to return home they should be given immediate assistance in food and non-food items. In particular medical facilities should be improved in all camps,” the statement said.
The rights body has also called on the Sudanese army and other armed groups active in the region to ensure civilians are not harmed or displaced from their villages and towns during military operations.
(ST)