Troubled camp for displaced in Darfur focus of talks between UN, AU officials

The situation in one of the largest camps for people uprooted by the conflict in the war-ravaged Sudanese region of Darfur has topped talks between top United Nations and African Union (AU) officials.

Deadly violence broke out in recent weeks in Kalma camp between those supporting and those against the Darfur peace process under way in Doha, Qatar.

“Although tension in the camp has de-escalated, there remains long-standing insecurity in the camp,” according to a press statement from the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, issued following yesterday’s meeting between the mission’s Deputy Joint Special Representative, Mohamed Yonis, and Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission.

Mr. Yonis emphasized the collaboration between the Sudanese Government and UNAMID in ensuring the safety and security of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kalma, noting the mission’s commitment to upholding calm and order in the South Darfur camp.

For his part, Dr. Ping reiterated the AU’s support for all efforts to resolve problems in Kalma and urged UNAMID to continue working closely with the Government in using peaceful means to resolve the situation.

The mission reported today that gunshots were heard last night in one sector of the restive camp, which was home to an estimated 82,000 IDPs before the outbreak of fighting.

A UNAMID patrol responded headed towards the direction of the shooting, where four rocket-propelled grenades, as well as more than 100 spent cartridges, were found.

Aid organizations and state authorities found that between 50,000 to 60,000 inhabitants remained at Kalma, while some 15,000 fled to the nearby town of Nyala and another 10,000 to surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, a UNAMID verification patrol is scheduled today for the Kass region, some 90 kilometres northwest of Nyala, the scene of clashes between the Misseriya and Rizeigat tribes.

The mission said that the exact number of casualties following the fighting is still unknown, and that a committee has been set up at the state level to resolve the renewed conflict, which started on 16 August.

That body has met with the leaders of the two tribes and presented recommendations on how to bring an end to the fighting.

As many as 2.7 million Darfurians live as IDPs or as refugees in neighbouring countries as a result of the seven-year-old conflict in the western region of Sudan that has also resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths.