Key Developments:
On 7 Apr., roughly 350 armed tribesmen attacked the village of Khor Abeche, northeast of Nyala in South Darfur. The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) has confirmed that approximately 90 percent of the village was destroyed in the attack, but casualty figures are not yet known. Please see accompanying joint AMIS-UNMIS communiqué for more details.
SRSG Pronk and DSRSG da Silva departed for Oslo on 9 Apr., to attend the donors' conference on Sudan.
A peaceful demonstration against UN Security Council resolution 1593 (2005) took place on 7 Apr. in Geneina, West Darfur. The demonstrators were principally from nomadic tribes. The three petitions presented by the demonstrators will be sent to the UN Secretary General through the appropriate channels. Deployment of GoS forces guaranteed the peaceful nature of the demonstration, but the market remained closed until the demonstration ended.
Security Issues:
South Darfur: There is growing concern that the departure of the GoS Army from Marla will allow rebel groups and Arab militia to engage in fighting, which would increase insecurity in the area. AMIS is expected to deploy troops in the area. Prior to any further humanitarian action into the Marla area, it was agreed that UN officials would assess the area. Meetings between groups in the area and agencies engaged in provision of assistance would follow.
On 8 Apr., an INGO reported that one of their vehicles travelling from Mershing to Manawashi was fired upon. No impact or damage was caused.
Protection Issues:
North Darfur: Reportedly, 234 individuals (mostly women and children) arrived at the Galab IDP site over the last three days, following attacks in Khor Abeche. These IDPs informed that more people are expected to move from that area as a result of increased insecurity.
South Darfur: Due to the continued harassment of IDPs in Kass, it has been reported that there is a renewed movement from Kass to Kalma camp, where five newly arrived families were registered on 9 Apr.
West Darfur: An INGO reported that 555 people (106 families) have moved to camps in Zalingei during Mar. from villages in Jebel Marra. Reportedly, many left due to insecurity and lack of food.
Political/Civil Affairs:
On 7 Apr., UNMIS met in El Fasher with the Women's Development Associations Network, which covers 21 women's associations from El Fasher and Kebkabiya localities, and has 5,000 members. Among some of its activities, the network provided meals and clothes to pregnant and lactating women and children, and trained 794 women in manufacturing and using improved cooking stoves in Abu Shouk IDP Camp. However, due to the security situation in the area, and the displacement of some of its members, the network was unable to implement its development projects.
Humanitarian Affairs:
General
North Darfur: On 8 Apr., an assessment of the Hamra area (the area surrounding the nomadic semi-permanent villages most recently assessed) commenced. The assessment is focused on the food situation in this area.
The situation and whereabouts of the IDPs from Tawilla following recent incidents in the area is still unclear. OCHA is due to conduct a field assessment on 10 Apr. to confirm the facts of the situation.
The demarcation for Abu Shouk II has been completed and the GoS Ministry of Planning issued confirmation that the land in question had been reserved and ready to use as an IDP camp. A task force meeting to plan concrete steps for assistance in the new site will be held 10 Apr.
West Darfur: The Interagency Assessment mission to Tendelti on 4 Apr. confirmed a population of approximately 1500 IDPs (225HHs), mainly displaced from Juruf village. The IDPs fled Tendelti approximately over a month ago as a result of heightened insecurity. There were also reports of population return from Chad. The IDPs' main needs are shelter, food and water assistance.
Food/NFIs
South Darfur: Agencies are gearing-up to measure and respond to the drought. A number of INGOs are in the process of establishing rain gauge stations for rainfall data collection with technical support from FAO.
Education
North Darfur: The Humanitarian Air Service intervened to deliver the Grade 8 examination papers to a number of examination centres in North Darfur. HAC expressed GoS deep appreciation for the assistance.
Returns
In Juba, the movement of people on the western side of river Nile is growing. This was reflected in the HAC registration of 90 students between 4 and 6 April. The registration shows that some families have returned to put their children in schools. According to HAC, non-students returnees are not registered because the movement is voluntary and there is nothing to offer to them. It is also difficult to identify where they live or whether they are visiting relatives, or business people.
231 returnees were registered passing through Kosti on 7 and 9 Apr.