‘Citizens bear brunt of power struggle in North Darfur’: camp coordinator

The humanitarian situation in Saraf Umra locality in North Darfur is “worse than ever before”. Prises are skyrocketing as a result of the conflicts between the state’s government and militia leader Musa Hilal. “Prices of basic consumer goods have gone insane. Because of the rampant insecurity, caused by Musa Hilal’s militias, the regular supply of basic goods is faltering. Most of the lorries do not reach the locality anymore,” the coordinator of the Saraf Umra camps for the displaced in North Darfur told Radio Dabanga. He demanded from the warring parties to take the situation of the citizens into consideration. “The people should not become victims of the power struggle between the North Darfur State government and Musa Hilal.” The security situation in the locality has deteriorated more than ever before, he said. “The people are constantly exposed to assaults, robberies, and rapes.” He appealed to the North Darfur State government to intervene, and put a halt to the abuses and violence in the locality. The coordinator described the living conditions in the Saraf Umra camps as “extremely bad”. “The humanitarian situation has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, as no camp resident can afford to buy enough food anymore. A bottle of cooking oil now costs SDG20 ($3.50), a pound of sugar SDG4 ($0.70). The price of a kilo of rice has risen to SDG15 ($2.60). We pay SDG17 to SDG21 ($3.70) for a kilo of lentils, and SDG45 ($7.85) for a pound of dried okra.”“At the breaking of the fast, the people in the camps drink only water and eat thin porridge.” The coordinator accused the aid organisations of dodging their responsibilities. “They have stopped their regular distribution of food rations. Those organisations are doing whatever the Sudanese government tells them. They are like two peas in a pot.” “The health situation is not better. The camps in Saraf Umra locality have no health centres. Diseases are spreading. Many people have diarrhoea, and many are vomiting, apart from those who are hit by malaria. The displaced used to go to Saraf Umra town or to Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, for medical treatment, but no one can afford the travel and the doctor’s fees anymore, let alone medicines.” He appealed to the authorities and militia leader Musa Hilal to “solve their problems together”, and restore security and stability in North Darfur. Janjaweed leader Tensions are running high in the North Darfur State where the governor, Osman Kibir, is contested by Musa Hilal, a Janjaweed leader from the Arab Mahameed clan in North Darfur. From 2008 until 2013, Musa Hilal occupied the post of Presidential Assistant for Federal Affairs. Mid 2013 he left this post, and returned to North Darfur. In January 2014, he announced his defection from the ruling National Congress Party, and launched a new movement known as El Sahwa Revolutionary Council. After a large offensive in the first half of March on several North Darfur localities, Hilal on 19 March announced the establishment of his “own administration” in Saraf Umra town, Kutum town, Kabkabiya town, and the area of El Waha. In the late 1990s, Hilal was imprisoned on criminal charges, including the murder of 17 “African Darfuris”, and the robbery of the Central Bank of Nyala. In 2003, he was released from prison by the Sudanese government with the purpose to mobilise Arab herders to fight the Darfuri insurgency. With full backing of the government, Hilal’s Janjaweed targeted unarmed villagers and torched villages of “African Darfuris”. They rarely came near forces of the armed rebel movements. The militia leader is subject to travel and financial sanctions, imposed by the UN Security Council in 2006.Map: Part of North Darfur (UN OCHA)Related:‘Sudan’s National Dialogue proposal not serious’: Musa Hilal spokesman (18 June 2014) North Darfur Governor downplays assassination attempt (18 March 2014) OCHA: ‘55,000 newly displaced in North Darfur’s Saraf Omra’ (18 March 2014) Khartoum delegation to negotiate with Darfur Janjaweed leader (17 March 2014)Darfur gold concession winner warned-off by Hilal (17 March 2014)Militias leave North Darfur’s Saraf Omra; relief arrives (16 March 2014) Musa Hilal’s militias plunder, burn, take control of North Darfur’s Saraf Omra (9 March 2014) Musa Hilal warns North Darfur citizens of ‘operations’ (2 March 2014)