5,000 newly displaced in West Darfur capital

The governmental Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) estimate that, since 10 January, nearly 5,000 people displaced from Mouli and surrounding villages have arrived in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur.

The people of Mouli and Atia villages, about 15 kilometres south of El Geneina, fled their homes on 10 January following attacks by militant herders after one of them was found dead near Mouli village.

It is still unclear exactly how many people have been displaced as no needs assessments have taken place, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported in its latest weekly bulletin.

HAC, in collaboration with community leaders, is currently registering the newly displaced people who have taken refuge in the Abu Zar camp in El Geneina.

So far, 130 families (about 650 people) have been registered in the camp. Aid organisations have requested permission to assess their needs. According to HAC, no assistance from organisations is required at this stage.

On 16 January, government authorities, together with local organisations and traders, sent food and non-food items to assist the people who remained in Mouli village.

Once the security situation improves and the displaced people return home, aid organisations can carry out assessments and provide returnees with assistance in their home areas, HAC stated.

Unamid

A verification patrol mission from Unamid visited Mouli and Atia on 12 January.

According to Unamid, a large section of Atia village was destroyed during the attacks. 70 houses burned to the ground. Other villages affected by the violence include Gokar, Khashaba, Doroti, Alla Maraga, Birtainyo and Hillet Zaghawa, all within 10 to 20 kilometres from the state capital.

Some sources report that there has also been displacement across the border into Chad. Unverified information also indicates that some people have begun to return to their villages.

In 2015 West Darfur recorded the least civilian displacement in the conflict-torn region, OCHA states. Humanitarian partners verified 1,220 newly displaced and 746 reported returnees in the state.

The total number of displaced and returnees in Darfur reached 246,600 last year.