Tensions rise in Darfur’s largest refugee camp – UN

KHARTOUM, April 27 (Reuters) – Tensions are running high between police and war victims in Darfur’s largest camp for about 150,000 people who fled fighting in the remote region, the United Nations said in a report released on Wednesday.

One camp resident was shot dead at close range when he was stopped at a police checkpoint and fuel demanded from him on April 21, the report said.

It outlined another incident where police fired over the camp causing people to flee for their lives and said police began firing directly into the camp on April 23.

U.N. spokesman George Somerwill said talks on a local and central level had taken place about the violence in Kalma camp, a few kilometres outside Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state. It has continued sporadically for at least the past 2 months.

Asked what explanation the police gave for their actions, he replied: “Clearly they believe there is a security situation in or around the camp.”

Local officials have said they believe rebel elements live in Kalma and last year accused the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) of launching an attack from within the camp on the police base outside.

South Darfur has seen much of the recent violence in Darfur with Arab militias still burning villages unchecked. Many of the roads are not safe and aid workers as well as civilians have been attacked while travelling by unknown armed men.

Tens of thousands have died in the Darfur revolt, launched more than 2 years ago. Rebels accuse the central government of neglect and of giving preferential treatment to Arab tribes over non-Arabs.

The U.N. Security Council last month referred alleged war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court – the first such referral.

But the humanitarian situation remains fragile, complicated by continuing militia and rebel attacks on the ground.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also said in a statement on Wednesday the United States had averted a halving of the food rations for the 2 million living in miserable camps in Darfur, by promptly providing non-cereal items in response to an urgent appeal a few weeks ago.

But, it warned, there was still a 40 percent shortfall in the $467 million WFP needs to feed those hungry in Darfur.

WFP predicts that during the traditional food gap in the rainy season in July and August when access is difficult, 3.5 million people will be in need of food aid.