Displaced without aid, security in Kutum, North Darfur

The residents who fled the north-eastern areas of Kutum locality, North Darfur, have renewed their appeal to the authorities and humanitarian organisations to help them. They have been stranded since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked their villages in March this year. Kutum residents have stressed to Radio Dabanga that humanitarian organisations have not reached them so far, despite the fact that more than one month has passed since they fled their villages. The people have taken refuge in the Um Gozain mountains, Hama Gasa Forest, the mountains of Toro Boro, and Gasana forest. Most of them are children, women, and elderly people.Listeners told they have been living “under harsh conditions”, without shelter, water, food, or transportation means. “Diseases, especially measles and whooping cough, have broken out and spread among us.” About 10,000 people fled the attacks by the pro-government militias last month. Sources already reported an outbreak of diseases among them on 21 April. In addition, the RSF are widespread all over the area and block all the roads. The Kutum residents have appealed to Unamid and the humanitarian organisations to speed up rescuing them, “especially as fall is approaching”. No food, security in Kassab camp The 500 to 600 people who have fled Anka and Wadi Eln’am areas in Kutum locality following attacks by the RSF for the displaced people are living in very bad humanitarian conditions. An activist in the Kassab camp for the displaced explained to Radio Dabanga that they live without food, shelter and other services. “The camp also suffers from the non-arrival of new aid, an acute shortage of drinking water, while food rations have been reduced to the lowest level.” The security situation is “very serious”, according to the female activist, as pro-government militiamen are abusing and scaring camp residents during the night, when they randomly fire into the air. “Their presence makes the internally displaced people almost trapped as they cannot go out to work in nearby farms or collect firewood and straw.” She explained that whoever goes out “will be subjected to beating or rape”. “Re-state the police to the region in order to deter the pro-government militiamen,” she demanded from the local and state authorities. File photo: Displaced woman in Kassab camp, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Murder, rape, theft, beatings in Kutum, North Darfur (30 April 2014) Fear of disease among North Darfur displaced (21 April 2014) At least 15 villages raided in Kutum, North Darfur (31 March 2014)