Militias leave North Darfur’s Saraf Omra; relief arrives

The militias led by Musa Hilal left Saraf Omra town on Friday. Two days earlier, humanitarian aid arrived for the displaced near the Unamid team site of Saraf Omra. About 350,000 people were displaced in North Darfur within the last two weeks during the attacks on the eastern North Darfur localities of Alliet Jarelnabi and El Taweisha, and Saraf Omra in the west. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, sources in Saraf Omra said that the “Musa Hilal militias” left the town on Friday. After they had entered Saraf Omra, they had set up check points at the entrances and exits of the town, and were continuously patrolling the streets.” About 16 large lorries loaded with relief items had arrived on Wednesday to provide aid to the people who fled to the Unamid team site in Saraf Omra. “Saraf Omra is facing a severe shortage in consumer goods such as oil, flour, sugar, onions, and soap. The traffic to and from the town is still halted.” “The majority of the people who sought refuge near the Unamid base near Saraf Omra town have returned to their homes again.” State-backed troops Two people were killed in Alliet Jarelnabi, 29 in El Taweisha, and 19 in Saraf Omra, along with 60 injured. About 350,000 were displaced, the chairman of the National Umma Party in North Darfur, Mohamed Adam Abdel Karim, told the press on Thursday. He stated that the attacks on Saraf Omra were carried out by “state-backed troops using army weapons”. File photo: Displaced from Saraf Omra (elrakoba.net) Related:Goods, livestock looted in Saraf Omra for sale in West Darfur capital (13 March 2014)Ministerial delegation in North Darfur to assess humanitarian needs (13 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)