OCHA: More than 102,000 displaced flee Darfur’s Jebel Marra

People continue to flee their homes as a result of the major offensive launched by the Sudanese government in mid-January on strongholds of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) in Jebel Marra.

As of 6 March, more than 102,700 people were reportedly displaced from Jebel Marra to various locations in North, Central and South Darfur, according to the UN and partners, and the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

North Darfur

The total number of people displaced from Jebel Marra in North Darfur has reached 98,013 as of 6 March, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners.

While the number of displaced continues to increase in Tawila, Kabkabiya, and Shangil Tobaya, no new arrivals were reported in Sortony over the last two weeks, the UN The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported in its latest weekly bulletin.

In Sortony, there are still significant gaps in terms of access to safe water and sanitation. Unicef has dispatched a drilling rig to the area and the drilling of boreholes is currently ongoing.

The people who arrived in Shangil Tobaya's Shadad camp for the displaced came from various villages including Faluja, Mara, Khortawilla, Feena, Tugully, Katur, Kab-Kai, Kalajo, Wastani, and Deldon in East Jebel Marra locality, and from southern parts of Tawila locality, according to the Sudanese Darelsalam Development Association.

Central Darfur

According to HAC and aid organisations in Central Darfur, an estimated total of 3,350 displaced from Jebel Marra have taken refuge in Central Darfur.

This includes about 600 people in Zalingei’s Hamidiya and Hasahisa camps. In response to their needs,, the government’s Water and Sanitation Department (WES) and the Norwegian Church Aid, with support from Unicef, are constructing ten communal latrines in Hamidiya and five in Hasahisa camp, the OCHA bulletin reads.

A further 2,750 displaced people have been reported by HAC in Tur, Guldo, and Nierteti. However, UN agencies and partners are still unable to verify and assess the needs of newly arrived displaced in most places in Central Darfur.

Despite being in Nierteti on 8 March, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator was denied access to the camps there.

South Darfur

On 28 February, HAC reported the arrival of 555 new displaced in the Kass camp for the displaced. 415 have been registered so far. This brings the total number of recently displaced from Jebel Marra in South Darfur to about 1,400.

The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) completed a rapid needs assessment of 835 newly displaced, among them 31 unaccompanied children, from Jebel Marra in the area of Deribat on 28 February.

More are expected to arrive in the area soon. SRCS will provide these newly displaced with emergency household supplies.

OCHA is currently in discussion with authorities to plan an inter-agency assessment of the area. According to HAC, the Deribat area is dangerous, given its close proximity to locations in Jebel Marra where military operations are ongoing.