Nearly 500 flee inter-tribal tensions in East Darfur

Tension has reportedly been increasing between the Rezeigat and Maaliya tribes in Kulaykili Abu Salama in Assalaya locality, East Darfur, prompting people to flee the area. According to reports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from community leaders in Ed Daein, the tension is related to a dispute over land ownership. Last week some 200 people from the Maaliya tribe arrived in Abu Karinka locality from Kulaykili Abu Salama fearing possible clashes between the two tribes, according to the Commissioner of Abu Karinka. In El Ferdous locality, tension between two Rezeigat clans has led to the displacement of 275 people from Keka Barra village, south of El Fardus town, to Khor Omer camp, according to findings from a recent inter-agency mission. “The newly displaced arrived in the camp three weeks ago leaving behind all their household goods” the report says. “They are in need of water, food, non-food relief supplies, education and sanitation assistance.” According to tribal leaders, the people fled their homes “after one of their relatives killed a man from the other clan”. The leaders say they are unable to return to their homes until the situation is resolved through the traditional tribal dispute settlement system. File photo by Rania Abdulrahman/UNAMID