Returns to Central Darfur continue: OCHA

On 29 January, the national NGO, the Great Family Organization (GFO), reported that some people who fled parts of Central Darfur following armed clashes between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes, as well as fighting between the Ta’aisha and Salamat tribes last year, decided to return to Central Darfur. According to its latest Sudan Humanitarian Bulletin, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and estimated 11,400 people from the Salamat tribe fled to the towns of Markondi and Kubum in August and September 2013. In the town of Markondi, an estimated 5,200 displaced Salamat– who fled from Central Darfur’s Um Dukhun locality and took refuge in the town – have started to return to Um Dukhun. The remaining 6,200 people in Kubum – who fled from Central Darfur’s Rahad El Berdi and Ed El Fursan localities – have decided to remain in Kubum until the security situation in their areas of origin improves, according to GFO. The OCHA report states that some 4,000 recent returnees are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 4,000 people have returned to the villages of Amar Jadid, Baril, Basweta, Raskileib, Bogog and Saraf Gimaiz in Mukjar locality from Bindisi and the Tharou area in Central Darfur, according to findings from an inter-agency mission that visited the villages on 24 December. The mission found that the returnees are in need of drinking water, emergency shelter, non-food items and education assistance. The returnees are from the Gimr, Tama Marareet and Salamat tribes who fled their homes in November 2013 due to fighting between the Salamat and Misseriya tribes. The improved security situation – following efforts by the local-level peace and reconciliation committee to promote inter-tribal peace – prompted the returns. Map by OCHA

On 29 January, the national NGO, the Great Family Organization (GFO), reported that some people who fled parts of Central Darfur following armed clashes between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes, as well as fighting between the Ta’aisha and Salamat tribes last year, decided to return to Central Darfur.

According to its latest Sudan Humanitarian Bulletin, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and estimated 11,400 people from the Salamat tribe fled to the towns of Markondi and Kubum in August and September 2013. In the town of Markondi, an estimated 5,200 displaced Salamat– who fled from Central Darfur’s Um Dukhun locality and took refuge in the town – have started to return to Um Dukhun. The remaining 6,200 people in Kubum – who fled from Central Darfur’s Rahad El Berdi and Ed El Fursan localities – have decided to remain in Kubum until the security situation in their areas of origin improves, according to GFO.

The OCHA report states that some 4,000 recent returnees are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 4,000 people have returned to the villages of Amar Jadid, Baril, Basweta, Raskileib, Bogog and Saraf Gimaiz in Mukjar locality from Bindisi and the Tharou area in Central Darfur, according to findings from an inter-agency mission that visited the villages on 24 December.

The mission found that the returnees are in need of drinking water, emergency shelter, non-food items and education assistance. The returnees are from the Gimr, Tama Marareet and Salamat tribes who fled their homes in November 2013 due to fighting between the Salamat and Misseriya tribes. The improved security situation – following efforts by the local-level peace and reconciliation committee to promote inter-tribal peace – prompted the returns.

Map by OCHA