{"id":187711,"date":"2013-04-24T20:30:00","date_gmt":"2013-04-24T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/40-of-umm-dukhun-s-population-fled-sudan-to-chad\/"},"modified":"2013-04-24T20:30:00","modified_gmt":"2013-04-24T20:30:00","slug":"40-of-umm-dukhun-s-population-fled-sudan-to-chad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/40-of-umm-dukhun-s-population-fled-sudan-to-chad","title":{"rendered":"\u201840%\u2019 of Umm Dukhun\u2019s population fled Sudan to Chad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Multiple sources affirm that more than 40 percent of the population of Umm Dukhun town and surrounding villages in Central Darfur fled to Chad due to violent fighting between various groups in the area.<\/p>\n

Prior to the tribal conflicts, the area of Umm Dukhun had about 125,000 inhabitants, being most them displaced and refugees themselves, according to estimations by local witnesses and activists.<\/p>\n

Pro-government militias are said to have confiscated \u201call possessions\u201d from residents of Umm Dukhun and surrounding villages in the last days, including their \u201ceating and drinking utensils\u201d.  <\/p>\n

Besides, militants are threatening attack those on the run inside the Chadian territory if they do not return to Umm Dukhun, sources told Radio Dabanga on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

According to witnesses, the following villages are \u201ctotally\u201d deserted: Jenino, Hillet Ashara, Hai Salama and Hai El Majma. They said militias have recently looted many shops and houses in these communities.<\/p>\n

Its inhabitants have largely fled to the Chadian tows of Kalmat El Medina, Rmalyah, Tamasieh, Gaddar, Umm Hijair, and Kulliya.  <\/p>\n

Until two weeks ago, at least 50,000 people had fled Sudan to Chad due to fighting between various groups in Central Darfur. UNHCR called it the largest influx of people from Darfur to Chad since 2005.<\/p>\n

The town of Tissi has received some 23,000 Sudanese and 16,000 Chadians, according to a UNHCR monitoring team working with Chad government officials along a 60-kilometre stretch of border areas.<\/p>\n

Citizens are fleeing tribal clashes that erupted some two weeks ago in Umm Dukhun when a Misseriya tribesman allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt.<\/p>\n

Violent hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. In the meantime, fighting has spread north and to South Darfur.<\/p>\n

Salamat\u2019s house invaded <\/strong><\/p>\n

On Monday evening, Misseriya militias have allegedly invaded the house of the deputy chief of the Salamat tribe in Umm Dukhun. In the attack, one policeman was killed and two persons were kidnapped.<\/p>\n

Salamat chief Haj Osman Mohamed Adam Al Dwaid said a Misseriya armed group driving a Land Cruiser mounted with Dushkas carried out the assault.<\/p>\n

The chief\u2019s nephew Suwar Mohamed Ali Zakaria was hurt and two comrades were kidnapped after a fire exchange. Policeman Fadul Ibhrahim was killed when confronting the insurgents, Al Dwaid said.<\/p>\n

Omar Ali and Abdul Rahim Bidey were held captive until Tuesday and were subjected to \u201cintense interrogation and torture\u201d, the Salamat chief said.<\/p>\n

Al Dwaid noted that the attack on his house was \u201ca clear breach of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed between both tribes\u201d in South and Central Darfur weeks ago.<\/p>\n

Refugees transferred to hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n

The International Community of Red Cross (ICRC) announced it transferred “18 seriously injured people from Darfur … to Ab\u00e9ch\u00e9 Hospital, in eastern Chad\u201d over the past two weeks.<\/p>\n

“Because we have a surgical team at the regional hospital in Ab\u00e9ch\u00e9, the main medical facility in eastern Chad, we naturally offered to provide care for the most severely injured patients,” said H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Plennevaux, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Ab\u00e9ch\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a team of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Chad is reportedly relocating thousands of Sudanese and Chadian refugees who fled the tribal clashes to safer areas, such as refugee camps.<\/p>\n

Map: Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur (OCHA- cropped)<\/em><\/p>\n

Related<\/em>:<\/p>\n

UNHCR relocating Sudan refugees to \u2018safer areas\u2019 in Chad<\/a> (23 April 2013)<\/p>\n

500 Salamat families \u2018deported\u2019 from South Darfur town<\/a> (16 April 2013)<\/p>\n