Government accused of kidnapping six refugees in Ethiopian camp

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North humanitarian coordinator for Blue Nile, Hashim Orta has accused the government of kidnapping six refugees from Sorkula camp in Ethiopia. Orta said this was part of the ploy to dismantle the camps. In an interview with Radio Dabanga he called for the UN to open an urgent investigation to find the militias that stormed the camp and abducted the six refugees. He also called for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to assume responsibility and protect the camp residents, asking them to postpone the transfer of the camp to another location further into Ethiopia until after the autumn. Orta said the eventual transfer of the camp must happen with the full cooperation of the refugees and not by force from the Sudanese government. Government says six refugees killed The Sudanese government has said six Sudanese refugees were killed following the outbreak of clashes between supporters and opponents of dismantling the camp and moving it to another location in Ethiopia, as agreed between the UN and Sudanese and Ethiopian authorities, leading to police and army intervention. A spokesman said the events led to the burning of UN food supplies and some homes belonging to Ethiopian citizens. He also said this escalated as Wednesday came, the date of the planned evacuation. He blamed the SPLM for fueling the conflict by inciting refugees not to return to their villages in Sudan.