Five Sudanese soldiers released by Darfur rebels
November 6, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction led by Ali Karbino has released 5 Sudanese soldiers on Wednesday, it was announced here today.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it facilitated their release in its capacity as a neutral mediator and officially demanded the government of North Darfur state to allow its teams to travel to areas east of Jebel Marra and Jebel Se to provide assistance for those in need.
The head of the ICRC mission in Sudan, John Kristof Sundo, said that the Sudanese government and the SLA asked the ICRC to provide the necessary logistical support for the transfer of the released soldiers.
The ICRC representatives escorted the released soldiers onboard the helicopter which carried them to South Darfur state capital city of Nyala.
The ICRC spoke to the released soldiers separately before boarding the chopper to make sure that they agree on their own free will to travel to Nyala.
Previous operations which were facilitated by the ICRC during this year led to the transfer of 5 Prisoners of War (PoW) to South Sudan following their release by the Sudanese government. 32 Sudanese soldiers and 36 civilians were also handed over to the Sudanese authorities after they were released by Darfuri armed groups.
The ICRC which operates in Sudan since 1978 has expanded its operations zone in 2003 to include Darfur where it provides assistance for the victims of armed conflicts and violence.
The governor of North Darfur state, Osman Mohamed Youssef Kibir, has met with the ICRC delegation headed by the director of operation in East Africa, Eric Markley.
Kibir renewed his government’s readiness to cooperate with the ICRC to enable it reach all areas under government control to provide medical, humanitarian, and farming assistance, pointing to the need of the ICRC’s teams to move cautiously.
He said that security and humanitarian situation in his state are fully stable in spite of the recent clashes between the Sudanese army and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-MM) led by Minni Minnawi, saying that his government applied additional measures to maintain security.
Kibir predicted that the lack of rain would cause food shortage in some parts of his state which necessitate the intervention of international aid agencies including the ICRC.
Markley, for his part, said that the goal of his visit to Darfur is to stand on the security and humanitarian situation, stressing that a positive development has occurred since his last visit to Darfur in 2004.
He affirmed that the ICRC would improve its work in order to meet the needs of the target groups in coordination with the local authorities, asserting that the ICRC work aims to serve those in need and doesn’t involve any political purpose.
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.
(ST)