UNAMID “concerned” about the impact of N. Darfur fighting on civilians

January 22, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The hybrid peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region (UNAMID) has expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of fighting in the east Jebel Marra and north of Kutum in North Darfur over the past three weeks.

The clashes between the government forces and several factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in eastern Jebel Marra forced 18,000 civilians to flee their villages and to El Fasher, Shangil Tobaya, Tawila and Um Baru in North Darfur, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The deputy spokesperson of the UN secretary-general, Farhan Haq, said on Wednesday that aid groups are providing humanitarian assistance to affected civilians, but warned 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”.

In a statement released on Thursday, UNAMID said it “is concerned about the impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians. Newly displaced people arrived in several localities of North Darfur, mainly in Um Baru, Tawilla and Sortony as well as Nertiti in Central Darfur”.

UNAMID said it is currently working together with the UN country team and other aid workers “to provide protection and assist in the distribution of urgent aid” to IDPs.

The mission also provided further details about the situation, saying some 3,900 civilians who fled from Orchi, Abu Leha and Doldol villages are now sheltered “in a safe zone adjacent to the Mission’s Um Baru Team Site in North Darfur”.

Over 5,700 IDPs arrived in Argo, Dali and Rwanda IDP camps in Tawilla, where the mission increased its patrols while aid groups provide them with the necessary assistance .

On 20 January, the UNAMID team in Sortoni also provided shelter and protection to 150 IDPs from the villages of Tui and Korambi villages amid fears of further attacks.

“The majority of the newly displaced returned to their villages on 21 January,” said UNAMID, adding that it is continuing to monitor the situation.

The Sudanese army (SAF) and government militias launched a large-scale military offensive against rebel positions in eastern Jebel Marra at the start of this month.

Both SAF and rebel forces have confirmed the death of a prominent rebel commander from the SLM faction led by Minni Minnawi, who was killed near Orchi, North Darfur on 13 January.

(ST)