Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001090 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian Access - May 8, 2006 Ref: Khartoum 01067 and previous ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Demonstrations at the Kalma IDP camp resulted in an attack on the African Union civilian police facility, with the UDSSS reporting with "near certainty" that an interpreter was killed and the AU facility being demolished. Fighting took place between the SLA and jinjaweed in Khor Abeche on May 4. Humanitarian access remains challenging in some areas, particularly in Mershing/Menawashi, Jebel Marra, and Shearia. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Security Update: ¶A. Kalma IDP Camp - USAID reports that apparently a group of IDPs attacked the AU CivPol facility at Kalma camp late on the morning of May 8. African Union (AU) sources indicate that one AU CivPol interpreter was killed; the UNDSS states that this is with "near certainty." The AU facility has been demolished by the crowd. The AU is attempting to send reinforcements to the area, and is advising all aid agencies to withdraw their staff from Kalma camp due to the violence, which broke out following a protest by IDPs calling for international troops to protect them. Reuters reports that UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland departed the camp and returned to Nyala safely. ¶B. Nyala Demonstration - a peaceful demonstration of about 200 individuals took place in Nyala town on the morning of May 8 in support of the Darfur peace agreement. ¶C. Khor Abeche Attack - On May 7, the U.N. Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) reported that an armed group mounted on six vehicles, camels, and horses (and thought to be jinjaweed) attacked Khor Abeche, South Darfur on May 4. The attack on the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA)- controlled town resulted in 14 deaths and the displacement of an unknown number of people who fled toward Shearia. (Comment: It is believed that SLA Chairman Mini Minawi's younger brother died in this incident. End comment.) On May 5, jinjaweed reportedly attacked Kalaka village; five people were killed, one injured, and about 1000 animals looted by the attackers. The SLA later mobilized and pursued the attackers. ¶D. El Fasher IDP Protests - On May 4, about 100 IDPs from Abu Shouk and Al-Salaam IDP camps staged a peaceful demonstration in El Fasher. The demonstrators, bearing different placards with Arabic inscriptions, were stopped at the entrance of the Force Headquarters by the guards. There were no acts of violence. The leaders of the demonstrators delivered their petitions to the Acting Deputy Head of Mission; they subsequently traveled via police vehicles to the governor's office as well. Their grievances and concerns included the recent reduction in food rations to the IDPs, present poor state of shelter in the camp in relation to the approaching raining season, and a plea for the parties to sign the Darfur peace agreement in Abuja to enable them return to their homes. Some of the placards read as follows: "We want peace in IDP Camps" "We want Parties to sign Darfur Peace Agreement immediately" "Reducing Food Aid means more suffering for IDPs" ¶E. On the night of May 4 there were sounds of gunshots heard from the office of Save the Children - Sweden located in Tawilla. A security man at the premises was abducted by the night marauders, but later was released. ¶F. Weapons Handover - On May 4, about 200 militia handed over their weapons to the Government of Sudan. The exercise was supervised by Judge Balula Abdulfaraj, who explained that the process would end on May 6. He reported that the people handing over their weapons were from different villages around Kass. ¶G. OXFAM Vehicle Stolen - UNDSS reported that Chadian rebels recently seized an OXFAM-UK vehicle 35 kilometers northwest of Saraf Omra, West Darfur. UNDSS urged organizations operating in the area to use no less than two vehicles per convoy and maintain vigilance. The vehicle's driver remains missing. ¶3. (SBU) Humanitarian Access Update: KHARTOUM 00001090 002 OF 002 ¶A. World Vision International has evacuated staff out of the Mershing/Menawashi area in South Darfur due to large- scale Arab militia movements in the area. They completed the April food distribution before they departed. ¶B. U.N. World Food Program (WFP) security officers have recommended that WFP cancel general food distributions to east Jebel Marra following several unsuccessful attempts to get food convoys into the area. WFP convoys escorted by the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) were stopped and threatened by militias on several occasions, forcing them to turn back. WFP will redirect food resources originally intended for east Jebel Marra elsewhere in South Darfur. ¶C. UNDSS opened the road from El Fasher to Korma in North Darfur. The area had been cut off from humanitarian access since an April SLA attack on a SAF convoy going to Kutum. The roads from Kafod to Korma and from Korma to Tawilah remain closed to humanitarian access. ¶D. On May 2, Sudanese Armed Forces blocked a Solidarite food convoy from traveling to Shearia, South Darfur, ostensibly to avoid a potentially insecure area. STEINFELD