New Unamid Deputy visits El Sareif, North Darfur

The newly appointed Deputy Joint Special Representative for Unamid, Joseph Mutaboba, visited El Sareif Beni Hussein locality in North Darfur on Tuesday.During the visit, Mutaboba reviewed the security situation and interacted with representatives of native administration, displaced people, women and youth. He stressed on the importance of reconciliation and peaceful conflict resolution between tribes for a sustainable peace.The area’s Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes fought violently earlier this year over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality, leaving at least 500 people killed. The UN estimates that more than 100,000 people were displaced.Tensions have repeatedly overflowed into renewed clashes over the months that have followed, with Abbala militants beseiging Al Sareif city and disrupting the flow of supplies.Witnesses spoke to Radio Dabanga earlier this month describing the humanitarian and economic situation in the town as “dire”.“About 13,000 families displaced from the villages of the locality have been crowded into the town, which is threatened by an outbreak of jaundice and other autumn diseases,” they warned, highlighting that the only hospital in the town has a shortage of medicines and staff, while the displaced have no means of shelter during the rainy season. Photo by Albert González Farran/UNAMIDRelated:’Abbala militias rob army guarded convoy’ in North Darfur (8 July 2013) Most schools still closed following North Darfur tribal violence (7 July 2013) Military guard as ‘some traffic resumes’ in North Darfur (3 July 2013)‘Army repels Abbala attack’ in North Darfur – three killed, four wounded (30 June 2013)Renewed violence between Abbala and Beni Hussein in North Darfur (26 June 2013)New Beni Hussein – Abbala violence in North Darfur (23 June 2013)