UN: 47,000 displaced in less than one month in Kordofan, Sudan
Armed clashes between Sudanese troops and rebel forces that broke out on 27 April in North and South Kordofan have displaced 47,000 people so far, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.The figure was provided to OCHA by various sources, including the Sudanese Government Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) and the International Organization for Migration.The civilians are fleeing Abu Kershola and Umm Berimbita areas of South Kordofan and villages in the Umm Rawaba area in North Kordofan, OCHA says.Of the 47,000 displaced, about 34,000 are reported to have gone to areas in and around El Rahad, Umm Rawaba and El Obeid towns in North Kordofan; 10,500 people to Dibeakir (Al Qoz locality), Umm Berimbita and Tandik areas (Rashad locality) in South Kordofan; and an estimated 3,100 people to Khartoum.The UN says it does not have presence in areas controlled by the SPLM-N rebel group and therefore is not in a position to report on the full impact of the fighting on civilians in those areas. The rebel movement claims to control “more than 40 percent” of Sudan and South Sudan’s shared borders.“Villages for affected people”On 15 May, the North Kordofan State HAC announced plans to relocate newly displaced people from Abu Karshola to new locations within North Kordofan, such as Abu Gur, El Semihe and Um Sakina areas.The move aims to provide better living conditions to newly displaced people as the school buildings they currently occupy are overcrowded and will be required for teaching when the new school year starts in June, it was stated.HAC says that the alternate areas receiving the displaced will be named “villages for affected people”, not “displaced camps”.Dr Suleiman Abdul Rahman Suleiman, General Commissioner of the HAC in Sudan, announced earlier this month that “the guidelines of the government are clear: no new camps, no foreign NGOs to work with Sudanese displaced”.Around the same time, Sudan’s Interior Minister announced to Khartoum newspapers that “establishing camps would reproduce the Darfur crisis in North Kordofan”. He said that the displaced would be “hosted in centres, school buildings and under trees in Abu Karshola until the town is free” of rebels.The SRF rebel coalition forces staged a surprise attack on Umm Rawaba almost one month ago. The town, east of North Kordofan capital El Obeid, is on the route to Rabak, the capital of White Nile State.Fighting in the region continues, with the Sudanese Armed Forces and rebels making contradictory claims over who is winning the battles. The town of Abu Karshola has reportedly been under rebel control since the battles broke out.Photo: New displaced persons from Abu Karshola (SRCS)Related: JEM: Sudan Army will fail to recapture Abu Karshola (17 May 2013)
Armed clashes between Sudanese troops and rebel forces that broke out on 27 April in North and South Kordofan have displaced 47,000 people so far, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says.
The figure was provided to OCHA by various sources, including the Sudanese Government Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) and the International Organization for Migration.
The civilians are fleeing Abu Kershola and Umm Berimbita areas of South Kordofan and villages in the Umm Rawaba area in North Kordofan, OCHA says.
Of the 47,000 displaced, about 34,000 are reported to have gone to areas in and around El Rahad, Umm Rawaba and El Obeid towns in North Kordofan; 10,500 people to Dibeakir (Al Qoz locality), Umm Berimbita and Tandik areas (Rashad locality) in South Kordofan; and an estimated 3,100 people to Khartoum.
The UN says it does not have presence in areas controlled by the SPLM-N rebel group and therefore is not in a position to report on the full impact of the fighting on civilians in those areas. The rebel movement claims to control “more than 40 percent” of Sudan and South Sudan’s shared borders.
“Villages for affected people”
On 15 May, the North Kordofan State HAC announced plans to relocate newly displaced people from Abu Karshola to new locations within North Kordofan, such as Abu Gur, El Semihe and Um Sakina areas.
The move aims to provide better living conditions to newly displaced people as the school buildings they currently occupy are overcrowded and will be required for teaching when the new school year starts in June, it was stated.
HAC says that the alternate areas receiving the displaced will be named “villages for affected people”, not “displaced camps”.
Dr Suleiman Abdul Rahman Suleiman, General Commissioner of the HAC in Sudan, announced earlier this month that “the guidelines of the government are clear: no new camps, no foreign NGOs to work with Sudanese displaced”.
Around the same time, Sudan’s Interior Minister announced to Khartoum newspapers that “establishing camps would reproduce the Darfur crisis in North Kordofan”. He said that the displaced would be “hosted in centres, school buildings and under trees in Abu Karshola until the town is free” of rebels.
The SRF rebel coalition forces staged a surprise attack on Umm Rawaba almost one month ago. The town, east of North Kordofan capital El Obeid, is on the route to Rabak, the capital of White Nile State.
Fighting in the region continues, with the Sudanese Armed Forces and rebels making contradictory claims over who is winning the battles. The town of Abu Karshola has reportedly been under rebel control since the battles broke out.
Photo: New displaced persons from Abu Karshola (SRCS)
Related: JEM: Sudan Army will fail to recapture Abu Karshola (17 May 2013)
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