Unamid to support Darfuri students in Sudan

Unamid has promised to address the issue of housing for Darfuri university students, and provide support so that they will be able to continue their studies. The head of the Darfur Students’ Association, Kamal El Zein, told Radio Dabanga that they discussed the issue of housing with Unamid’s Human Rights Section on Tuesday. “Unamid condemned the violent eviction of Darfuri women students by security forces from El Zahra boarding complex. We also discussed the possible release of student Hawa Rahama who is still being held by the security service, and who has been subjected to torture. At least, she should be able to see a doctor. “The representatives of Unamid promised us to provide support to Darfuri students with regard to housing and tuition fees,” he said. In the early morning of 5 October, the second day of the Eid El Adha, security forces raided the El Zahra boarding house in Khartoum, forcibly evicted 70 Darfuri women students, and detained dozens of them.The National Endowment Fund for Students had ordered women students at the University of Khartoum to vacate the boarding house before the 25th of September, as the facility needed maintenance. 70 Darfuri students refused to leave, saying that they could not find affordable accommodation elsewhere. File photo: Darfuri students in a meeting at the University of Khartoum discussing which action to take in protest against widespread attacks on rural areas in Darfur, 11 March 2014 (Radio Dabanga correspondent) Related:‘Darfur Authority, Students Fund responsible for student discrimination’: activists (28 October 2014) Darfuri student suffers after beatings in detention: activist (20 October 2014)‘El Intibaha story about students fabricated’: Darfur lawyers (9 October 2014) Women’s initiative condemns ‘racist attack’ on Darfuri students (9 October 2014) Darfuri students detained in Sudan’s capital (8 October 2014)