Unamid re-constructs ravaged Khor Abeche camp, South Darfur

A force commander of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid) visited the recently ravaged Khor Abeche camp in Niteaga locality, South Darfur, on Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Paul Mella travelled to the camp, 80km north-east of Nyala city, to assess the situation of the displaced Darfuris. The mission’s press release yesterday stated that Unamid continues to provide the around 3,000 displaced people with water and some limited healthcare services. An attack on the camp, which is situated near a Unamid base, by the government’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 22 March has forced the residents to take shelter in the base. “About 300 heavily armed men set fire to the nearby camp,” a camp resident told Radio Dabanga at the time. “The forces assaulted, burned, and looted the residents’ properties, and injured and abducted a number of people.” The attacks would continue for several days, while the residents remained in the Unamid base, which was also besieged. ‘Better secured camp’ Unamid engineers have worked to secure the original Khor Abeche camp, and re-construct it into a new camp of 70,000 square meters. The camp is now almost completed, has a secure perimeter, watch towers, solar lights, two community centres, a school and latrines. The affected displaced people have already settled in the camp. During a meeting with commander Mella on Tuesday, the leaders of the displaced people requested more assistance, particularly in the provision of firewood patrols and in the construction of education facilities for the children. Alawia Ibrahim, speaking on behalf of the women amongst the displaced, requested support for income-generating activities. “We don’t have anything to fall back on,” she said. “Everything was destroyed, leaving us to rely on relief aid from the World Food Programme.” File photo: Unamid engineers work to secure camp for displaced people in Khor Abeche, South Darfur (Unamid) Related: Sudan Leaks: UN admits Darfur reports slanted to please Sudan (8 April 2014) Unamid protects newly displaced in North and South Darfur (7 April 2014) Images confirm militias torched 400 shelters in South Darfur (4 April 2014) Khor Abeche camp in South Darfur laid waste (23 March 2014)