Tribal fighting hampering aid operations in Central Darfur

The fighting between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes that raged for more than a week at the heart of Central Darfur continues to affect humanitarian operations in the state. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirms that security concerns have forced some international NGOs to scale-down operations in areas affected by the conflict. In its latest humanitarian report, OCHA states that “relief supplies currently in El Geneina (West Darfur) and Zalingei towns cannot be transported to Central Darfur as commercial transporters are concerned about road security. Insecurity has also forced the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) to cancel flights to Garsila since fighting started in the area.” In its report, OCHA cites a warning from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that next year there could be a serious food security problem in the localities of Umm Dukhun, Mukjar, and Bindisi as less land has been cultivated due to the ongoing fighting. “In addition, the weather forecast issued by the State Ministry of Agriculture has indicated that Central Darfur is expected to receive below average rainfall this year, which will affect crop yields,” according to FAO, which points out that Umm Dukhun “has been known as the breadbasket of Central Darfur”. Humanitarian assistance OCHA says that humanitarian actors continue to assist newly displaced people in the state. “In Umm Dukhun, the international NGO Tearfund has established two new nutrition centres in Kamgar – a settlement near Umm Dukhun town – and Abu Zar camp for the displaced. The nutrition centres are providing nutritional supplements and treatment to children under five years as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. The Tearfund has run out of supplies in their nutrition centres, and is unable to transport supplies from El Geneina and Zalingei due to insecurity on the roads.” The report continues: “Tearfund has also suspended activities at their nutrition centres in Kubar, Abugaradil and Sali, due to security concerns. In Zalingei, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has received emergency shelter and non-food relief supplies to assist some 3,500 people displaced in the Kadangara area (approximately three kilometres southwest of Zalingei town) from Kolme and Terej villages following fighting between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes in June. NCA also distributed emergency shelter and non-food relief supplies to over 200 displaced people newly arrived in Hassa Hissa camp,” the OCHA report concludes.WFP As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, a spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Amor Almagro told Radio Dabanga that 32,000 people in Garsila rely on aid from the WFP. However, “distribution was disrupted for 13 days due to ongoing fighting” . He noted that the distribution of the monthly food ration in Garsila was scheduled from 8-12 July, but could only be completed on 25 July.File photo by Albert González Farran/UnamidRelated: Leaders call on Darfur tribes to ‘honour treaty’ as clashes subside (1 August 2013)‘Food prices remain high in Sudan’: FAO (1 August 2013)Warring tribes ‘swear to halt violence’ in Central Darfur (30 July 2013)