PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Sudan: AU-UN mission in Darfur urges restraint after clashes at camp for displaced persons
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) – The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur on Friday urged “the utmost restraint” by all parties after clashes between government forces and internally displaced persons at the Kalma camp led to the death of at least three IDPs and injuries to some 26 others.
“I call upon everyone involved in this situation to restore calm as soon as possible. A peaceful resolution of differences is the only way forward for the Darfuri people,” said Jeremiah Mamabolo, the Joint Special Representative and head of the AU-UN mission (UNAMID).
A UN statement said a medical team from UNAMID is currently at Kalma camp, located in South Darfur, to assist local authorities in treating the injured. The mission is also engaging with the state government and IDP leaders to peacefully resolve the issue.
The incident reportedly occurred after Sudanese Government forces dispersed a group of IDPs protesting against President Omar Al-Bashir’s visit to South Darfur.
Meanwhile, President Omar Bashir on Friday visited the camp, the largest for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur, the first ever visit by a top senior government official, saying he was there to listen to their complaints and worries.
The camp, less than thirty minutes’ drive outside the town of Nyala, the second largest town in Darfur, is hosting over a quarter of a million internally displaced persons in Darfur, and was until Friday known to be the stronghold of the rebel movements.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 22Sept2017
“I call upon everyone involved in this situation to restore calm as soon as possible. A peaceful resolution of differences is the only way forward for the Darfuri people,” said Jeremiah Mamabolo, the Joint Special Representative and head of the AU-UN mission (UNAMID).
A UN statement said a medical team from UNAMID is currently at Kalma camp, located in South Darfur, to assist local authorities in treating the injured. The mission is also engaging with the state government and IDP leaders to peacefully resolve the issue.
The incident reportedly occurred after Sudanese Government forces dispersed a group of IDPs protesting against President Omar Al-Bashir’s visit to South Darfur.
Meanwhile, President Omar Bashir on Friday visited the camp, the largest for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur, the first ever visit by a top senior government official, saying he was there to listen to their complaints and worries.
The camp, less than thirty minutes’ drive outside the town of Nyala, the second largest town in Darfur, is hosting over a quarter of a million internally displaced persons in Darfur, and was until Friday known to be the stronghold of the rebel movements.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 22Sept2017
