‘Unamid’s main task is to protect Darfur displaced’: camp leader

The Darfur Displaced and Refugees Association has strongly condemned the violence of government forces against the population of Kalma camp in South Darfur, and Unamid’s absence during the raids. In a statement released on Monday, the Association denounced the “direct targeting and repression of the displaced in Kalma camp when they peacefully stood up to raise their voices”. Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesman for the Association, told Radio Dabanga from Kalma camp that “any intervention by government forces in the camps is reprehensible”. “After government forces again raided Kalma camp on Thursday, the displaced spontaneously staged a peaceful protest. They did not need to be incited by armed movements, or whatsoever. The people demonstrated to show the world that they are in real danger. In particular the women, children, and the weak in the camp have become victims of the violence by the government forces.” “Moreover, Unamid, or its head, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, have not been able to prevent the repeated raids of the camp by government forces during the past weeks. The UN have acknowledged this.” Abu Sharati called on the UN, the international community, human rights organisations, and the embassies in Sudan to “immediately dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate the attacks against the Kalma camp displaced”. “If international actors do not intervene, the situation will get out of hand, and the more than 160,000 displaced in the camp will be in great danger.” Spontaneous protests He strongly denied the accusations by the governor of South Darfur State, Maj. Gen. Adam Mahmoud Jarelnabi, saying that camp residents affiliated with the Darfur rebel movements had organised the protests. “These claims are fabricated. The camp leaders were not even consulted,” he stressed. “The protests erupted after government forces had suddenly stormed Norway Square in the camp on Thursday. The presence of the heavily armed forces on the square horrified the displaced, and resulted in a spontaneous demonstration.” Abu Sharati added that the Association holds Unamid “directly responsible” for what happened in Kalma camp. “Unamid’s main task is protecting the displaced in Darfur.” File photo: Protests at Kalma camp on Friday (Radio Dabanga) Related:Unamid calls for restraint over tensions in Kalma camp, South Darfur (8 September 2014) Sudan opposition forces condemn attack on Kalma camp (8 September 2014) ‘South Darfur State governor a liar’: Kalma elders (7 September 2014) Four Darfuri displaced killed in Kalma camp mass protest (5 September 2014) Mass protest in South Darfur’s Kalma camp against repeated raids (4 September 2014) Military raid on South Darfur’s Kalma camp; Unamid measures ‘to mitigate impact’ (14 August 2014)