‘Child gangs a new scourge for West Darfur camps’: activist

A leadership activist at Sirba camp for displaced persons near El Geneina in West Darfur, has warned of the growing phenomenon of children’s criminal gangs in the camps. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, she said that the gangs, which are referred to as ‘Al Niss’ mostly consist of children aged between nine and 15 years old, whose parents are unknown. “These gangs first emerged from the city of El Geneina, but have now spread around the camps around the city. The children rob citizens and displaced persons after they have been shopping at the market, they sometimes burgle homes when the owners are not at home, or they snatch women’s bags and purses,” she said. “This new phenomenon has caused panic and fear among the citizens and displaced persons,” she said, and appealed to the competent authorities in El Geneina to address this phenomenon. Separately, pro-government militia members allegedly attacked a displaced woman from camp of Kassab in North Darfur on Sunday and attempted to rape her inside her home. Activists and displaced persons reported to Radio Dabanga that members of the militia attacked a 35- year-old, whose screams prompted the militiamen to flee.They fired shots around the camp sparking terror and panic among the displaced, who appealed to competent authorities to provide security and protection to the camp. They also demanded that Unamid deploy patrols inside the camps.File photo