36,000 fled East Darfur battles -Humanitarian Aid Commission

In line with estimates by the Sudanese government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) about 36,000 civilians have gathered around UNAMID bases in the towns of Labado and Muhajeriya, an UN agency declared. They are reportedly fleeing violent battles between the rebel group Sudan Liberation Army -Minni Minawi (SLA-MM) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over control of both towns.Labado and Muhajeriya are located in strategic positions along main routes used by traders and humanitarians to move supplies from Khartoum through East Darfur to South Darfur, as UN OCHA describes. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan expressed on Tuesday “serious concern about the safety and well-being of civilians caught up in fighting”. Mr. Ali Al Zatari said that “humanitarian organizations do not currently have access to the affected civilians in Muhajeriya and Labado [towns] and have not been able to verify their numbers or condition.”He urged that humanitarian teams gain immediate access to civilians so they can receive necessary relief supplies. Furthermore, he urged SAF and rebels to “uphold their humanitarian responsibilities”, protect civilians and allow them to move out of the area safely.  At the same time, Mr. Zatari noted that more than 300 people have arrived at the displaced camp of El Neen near Ed Daein, East Darfur’s capital, where they are receiving urgent assistance.  On Monday, Radio Dabanga reported that an inter-agency mission visited areas in East Darfur which have been receiving displaced.It observed that almost 18,000 people had fled the SAF –SLA-MM fighting and that their condition is very serious as they lack water, food and medicines.  The team also observed that the deficient support received by the displaced at UNAMID’s Muhajeriya site has caused them to seek refuge in a different location.Many of them are moving on foot and thousands more are still expected to flee the areas surrounding Labado and Muhajeriya. UNAMID For its part, the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) declared on Tuesday that some 8,000 displaced civilians have been concentrated at its site in Labado since clashes erupted on 6 April. Meanwhile, another 10,000 civilians have been gathering around the UNAMID team site near Muhajeriya for the past 10 days. The Mission added the situation in and around the town remains relatively calm, but tense. “The lives of thousands of displaced civilians, who are still waiting for humanitarian aid, are at stake here. I am deeply concerned about their safety, security and well-being,” said the Joint Special Representative, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.“I urge all sides to protect the civilians and respect international human rights and humanitarian law,” he added. Mr. Chambas also urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and allow immediate humanitarian access to Muhajeriya and Labado, including to UNAMID team sites in both locations, a statement read. File photo: An aerial view of Muhajeriya town in East Darfur State (sudanforum.net)Related: Sudan army, rebels battle in East Darfur where some 18,000 fled (15 April 2013)