Ten thousands of Darfurians fleeing Sudan to seek refuge in Chad

At least 50,000 people have been fleeing Sudan to Chad in the past week due to fightings between various groups in Central Darfur. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says it is the largest exodus of people from Darfur since 2005.UN agencies and local sources in Chad have confirmed the arrival of at least 50,000 people who are fleeing inter-tribal fighting in Central Darfur. They are joining another 24,000 who have previously sought shelter in Tissi town due to other conflicts.Civilians escaping the recent violent clashes in Umm Dukhun between the Salamat and Misseriya tribes do not have water, food or medicines and are sleeping under trees, a local source told Radio Dabanga. These claims were confirmed by the UN agency for refugees UNHCR:  “They are in great risk of waterborne diseases as they drink water from a nearby river. More refugees continue to arrive daily. Among them are wounded by bullets that are abandoned to their fate and are sleeping on the ground”.It added that most of them are traveling on foot, donkeys or on carts to save their lives. People are “exhausted, traumatized and visibly disturbed by the recent violent events”.Central Darfur refugees saw their houses being destroyed and villages completely burnt down. Many reported their relatives being killed in the latest round of violence, UNHCR reported. According to a Tissi native, refugees come mostly from Abugaratil and surrounding villages, which were heavily targeted during the tribal war. Besides Tissi, the villages of Killi, Rumaliya, Ratret, Haraza and Koza are also housing refugees. The source disclosed that the local health center is treating 40 injured people, noting that another eight persons who were in critical conditions have been transferred to a hospital in Abeche.”Thick heavy smoke” The government of Chad and aid agencies, which had been hosting the first wave of 24,000 displaced, are reportedly deploying committees to assess the current situation in Tissi and send aid to the new arrivals.Local authorities have provided 100 tons of food that have already been transported by UNHCR to Tissi. In a press statement, however, the UN agency expressed concerns that the number of refugees could increase as clashes continue across the border.Its staff has witnessed “thick heavy smoke in the Darfur skies fearing this may be the result of more houses being set on fire in the nearby Darfur villages.”300,000 refugees Since 2003, over 300,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Chad, UN says, adding the Misseriya-Salamat clashes have led to “the largest influx of refugees from Sudan into Chad since 2005”.There are also reports that the recent war in Central Darfur has displaced another 4,000 Sudanese refugees to Amnafok, North of Birao in the Central African Republic at the border with Sudan.The new arrivals in Chad will be relocated to the Goz Amer camp in Chad, which already hosts 26,000 Sudanese refugees and can only accommodate an additional 5,000 people.UNHCR says it is working with Chadian authorities and partners to develop a new refugee camp to accommodate the latest arrivals. According to the World Food Programme, Umm Dukhun town itself was already hosting about 50,000 displaced who are registered for General Food Distribution (GFD). There are also over 2,000 people from Chad and CAR living in a refugee-like situation.Tribal clashes between the Arab tribes of Abbala and Beni Hussein over control of a gold mine in North Darfur displaced at least 100,000 in January, the UN estimates.Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA- cropped)Related: After 10,000 displaced Salamat-Misseriya sign treaty in Darfur (11 April 2013)UN confirms biggest forced displacement in Darfur since years (17 January 2013)