‘Poor security could prompt exodus of displaced from Central Darfur camps’: sources

The poor security situation at camps for the displaced in Central Darfur causes inhabitants to live in a constant state of fear, sources said. Camp leaders fear that this will prompt many of the displaced to leave the area for Chad, or other areas they perceive as ‘safer’. A sheikh form Garsila camp in Wadi Salih locality, Central Darfur told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that another 12 families, each with between two and ten members, have arrived at the camp over the past few days. All of them have fled a tribal conflict that has raged between the Misseriya and Salamat since early April. The clashes have claimed hundreds of lives on both sides, ravaged towns and villages such as Umm Dukhun in Central Darfur, and displaced tens of thousands, with at least 50,000 taking refuge in eastern Chad. While ‘calm’ has reportedly returned to the area as the tribal leaders discuss peace terms at a reconciliation conference in the state capital of Zalingei, those displaced by the hostilities reportedly live in constant fear of attacks on the camps, either by rival tribesmen or by armed pro-government militiamen, and complain that there is no entity providing them with protection. “The displaced live in horror of potential attacks, but no protection is available from Unamid,” the sheikh said. “Some of the latest arrivals have settled near to the airport and built cottages for shelter, while other newcomers went into neighbourhoods in Garsila. “In addition to the fear of attack, there are no UN or government entities we can turn to when an attack actually happens.” Not only civilians seem to be at risk. On Wednesday, a 27-year-old displaced policeman, Abdel Al Munehin Hajaj, was killed by four armed militiamen as he made his way from his home in Garsila camp to the police station, sources recounted. They demanded his service weapon; when he refused, they gunned him down and took the weapon anyway, a witness said. The sheikh appealed via Radio Dabanga to Unamid to provide patrols to improve security. “The alternative, as many have agreed, is for displaced people to choose to leave the Garsila camps and go to other camps in Darfur, or even to Chad,” the sheikh warned. File photo: Albert González Farran/UNAMID Related: ‘Calm returns’ to Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur, as leaders parley (12 June 2013) ‘At least 100 dead, dozens injured’ as Salamat and Misseriya clash again in Central Darfur (11 June 2013)