18,000 newly displaced people reach North Darfur towns
January 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The number of the internally displaced people (IDPs) in the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state and other towns has reached 18,000 people, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday.
Haq said more than 2,200 IDPs had sought protection with the hybrid UN and African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) in Um Baru, adding that more people continued to arrive at the base.
A further 200 IDPs also reached the UNAMID camp in Sortony area, not far from Jebel Marra “reportedly fearing attacks on villages in the area,” aid Haq.
The Sudanese army (SAF) and government militias have been carrying out military attacks on rebel positions in Jebel Marra since the beginning of the year.
The SAF spokesperson said their forces had expulsed different factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) from the eastern part of Jebel Marra, as well as capturing a number of strategic rebel positions.
Both SAF and rebel forces have confirmed the death of Mohamed Hari, an operational commander with the Minni Minnawiled SLM faction, who was killed on 13 January in an ambush near Orshi, North Darfur.
OCHA said aid groups on the ground are providing civilians affected by the fighting in the area with humanitarian assistance, including healthcare and household items.
However, the UN body says “that aid agencies aren’t able to access those displaced in the Jebel Marra area and assess their needs due to ongoing hostilities and access constraints”.
Access to this isolated area continues to pose challenges for aid groups, although efforts are currently underway to carry out a rapid assessment and deliver humanitarian assistance.
(ST)