Troubled Darfur IDP camp reopens for aid
By John Stephen Katende – 23rd–29th Aug 2010
Aid workers were on 18th August allowed back into a restive camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur. Humanitarian access has been limited in recent weeks since fighting erupted in the Kalma camp in South Darfur state. The fighting led to the death of several residents and protests within the camp about the Darfur peace process.
The UNAMID peacekeeping mission reported that aid groups were allowed back in a day after they had been denied entry by local authorities who cited security concerns. Kalma is one of Darfur’s largest IDP camps and has been home to around 100,000 people. Some residents however fled to nearby villages and to the neighbouring UNAMID community policing centre (CPC) in the wake of the recent clashes.
The mission’s top officials, as well as other senior UN figures in Sudan, have been holding talks with the Government, camp residents, and others in a bid to ease tensions in Kalma.
Meanwhile, UNAMID is sending a mission to several villages outside the South Darfur town of Kass where fighting between the Rizeigat and Misseriya tribes this week reportedly caused the death of at least 25 people.
Inter-tribal clashes continue to occur in Darfur where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied militiamen since 2003. An estimated 300,000 people have died in seven years and about 2.7 million have been displaced.
