Abu Delik displaced families seeking refuge at UNAMID HQ

120 families displaced from Abu Delik, the area that witnessed heavy fighting last week, and an adjacent area Sag Al Nagam have refused to leave the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) headquarters, in Zam Zam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, near El Fasher. Newly displaced families were reportedly attacked by Abu Tira forces, on arrival to the camp. The families decided to seek shelter at the UNAMID base, until the peacekeeping force could guarantee their protection. A witness told Radio Dabanga that UNAMID met with camp leaders and representatives of Abu Delik displaced residents and asked the families to leave the headquarters. The representatives refused to leave, until the mission assured them they would provide the new IDPs with protection, shelter and humanitarian services as they do with the other residents of Zam Zam camp. The witness said there are 60 families currently seeking protection inside UNAMID’s HQ, and 160 families have been staying just outside the base since Tuesday. He noted that the new IDPs are mainly children, women and the elderly, and added that Zam Zam is experiencing an daily influx of IDPs traveling on foot and donkey. The witness appealed to the UN Security Council and humanitarian organisations to intervene, and provide the displaced with desperately needed food, shelter and medicine.