Refugees to Gambari: Apologize or resign

Displaced people in Darfuri camps hit back at the chief joint special representative’s comments on reduction of violence in the region.

Residents of Darfuri refugee camps demanded on Friday that Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the UNAMID, apologize to them or resign immediately from his post.The demand comes in the backdrop of Gambari’s remark in a recent press conference in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum about a 70 per cent decrease in the violence in Darfuri camps.

The JSR had been quoted saying, “The number of fatalities from direct clashes between the government and armed movements have declined significantly by about 70 per cent compared to the same period in the last three years.”

In reaction to this comment the Darfuri refugees demanded either an apology from Gambari to the people of the region or a resignation from his position in the UNAMID.

Gambari had also commented on the return of refugees back home: “At the height of the conflict in Darfur 2.7 million people were internally displaced. As we speak, according to OCHA estimates, it is now down to 1.7 million.”

The refugees dismissed both statements, about the reduction in violence as well as the number of displaced people returning home, as false. They complained that these opinions might mislead opinion regarding the conflict in the region at international, regional and local levels.

The local leaders and the coordinators in a North Darfur camp told Radio Dabanga that the situation in Darfur is grave, contrary to the picture the JSR has painted.

Worse security situation

Camp leaders in North, South and West Darfur told Radio Dabanga on Friday that the security situation in these states had worsened with time.

They complained about the killings, rape, looting and aerial bombardment witnessed in areas east of the mountains (which mountains?), Khor Abeche, Shangil Tobaya and Dar es Salaam early this year.

The aerial bombardment alone had resulted in displacement of more than 200,000 people to Zamzam camp.

“In North Darfuri camps, residents also have to deal with daily attacks by government militia and government forces,” a camp leader said adding, “I would deny to go back to the region I come from especially because things have changed now and I am not one of the natives.”

While expressing harsh criticism towards Gambari for his donation of 25 vehicles to the police the leader said, “It will only contribute to more killings and displacement in the region, because the police is not reliable. The people in the forces are partial.”