Misseriya civilians flee West Darfur conflict zone

13/05/2010 16:29

Civilians have fled from inter-tribal violence in Mukjar Locality of West Darfur to Kubum in Edd Al Fursan Locality of South Darfur. They came from a group of villages including Nyamatala, which is located approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Mukjar town. Two Arab tribes are fighting in the area, the Misseriya and the Nuwayba Rizeigat. Misseriya sources said that attackers came to the area and began shooting and burning. A woman who fled from the combat zone described the situation as a total mess. She told Radio Dabanga yesterday that after arriving at Kubum the displaced people did not find any shelter. During the flight some pregnant women had to give birth, she said. A man from Nyamatala said that fighting began there with heavy weapons, forcing him and others to withdraw. He said about 15 people were killed in his village.

Civilians have fled from inter-tribal violence in Mukjar Locality of West Darfur to Kubum in Edd Al Fursan Locality of South Darfur. They came from a group of villages including Nyamatala, which is located approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Mukjar town. Two Arab tribes are fighting in the area, the Misseriya and the Nuwayba Rizeigat. Misseriya sources said that attackers came to the area and began shooting and burning. A woman who fled from the combat zone described the situation as a total mess. She told Radio Dabanga yesterday that after arriving at Kubum the displaced people did not find any shelter. During the flight some pregnant women had to give birth, she said. A man from Nyamatala said that fighting began there with heavy weapons, forcing him and others to withdraw. He said about 15 people were killed in his village.

Fighting between the two tribes had originally broken out in early March in Khor Ramla near Nertiti in West Darfur. The two sides during a meeting in Zalingei on 28 March made an agreement to stop fighting, but the conflict was reignited on 4 May in the Mukjar region. The fighting has claimed the lives of 107 people since March, the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur estimated on 11 May.