‘38,600 displaced in Darfur in a month’: OCHA

Aid organisations have registered 38,600 newly displaced people, mainly in North Darfur and the Jebel Marra area in the northern part of Central Darfur, since the government began its second “dry season offensive”, end December last year, against rebel movements in Darfur,

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan expects that the actual number of newly displaced will be higher as humanitarian organisations are unable to access parts of Jebel Marra. In particular the northern parts of the Jebel Marra region are sealed-off and the government does not allow aid agencies or the UN, access.

In its latest weekly bulletin issued today, OCHA reports that, as of 4 February, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) registered an estimated 5,600 displaced people (1,604 families) who arrived at Zamzam camp for the displaced near El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, since January.

The latest influx was on 3 February following clashes in the area of Magareen, Adara, Hager, Tango and Rongla villages, east of Tabit and Galab and approximately 30km southwest of the Zamzam camp. The newly displaced are in need of emergency household and shelter supplies, food, and hygiene promotion, according to humanitarian organisations.

Relief organisations are providing assistance to the estimated 4,500 newly displaced taking refuge near the Unamid team site in Um Baru, North Darfur. Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders-Spain (MSF-E) conducted a screening of children under the age of five. 240 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition. Vitamin supplements have been distributed from 5 to 7 February. MSF plans to cover the 1,658 newly displaced children under the age of five, who have been registered in Um Baru.

Jebel Marra

OCHA also reported that thousands of people fled attacks on their homes in Jebel Marra, in particular in the areas of Golo and Rokoro. According to local authorities and community leaders, about 1,500 of them sought refuge in Nierteti town, 6,000 arrived at Golo, 1,200 at Guldo, 3,000 fled to Boori village, 1,800 to Yaga village, and 1,400 arrived at the village of Thur.

Humanitarian organisations are yet to verify these figures. So far, the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has confirmed the 6,000 newly displaced in Golo town, and 1,800 in Yaga village. HAC also confirmed that people sought refuge in villages in the northern area of Jebel Marra, but was unable to provide any numbers so far.

Local authorities expect more people to arrive in Golo as fighting continues in the area.