Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001153 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN GROUP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: Update on Darfur Security and Humanitarian Access - May 15, 2006 Ref: Khartoum 01104 and previous ¶1. Summary: Demonstrations continue in several locations in Darfur; incidents in Kas, South Darfur, resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals. Several jinjaweed attacks took place in South Darfur, and a large-scale jinjaweed-SLA battle took place in West Darfur. NGOs and UN agencies are working to respond to IDP and refugee movements within South Darfur and from Chad. End summary. ¶2. Security Update (Source - AMIS and USAID): ¶A. On May 11, MGS Nyala conducted a confidence building patrol to Menawashi and Mershing. At Menawashi, the team was informed of an attack on a commercial truck at Amarjadeed on May 11, allegedly by jinjaweed. Casualties are estimated to include two dead, six injured; 14 women were raped. ¶B. On May 11, a passenger truck traveling from Nyala to Kas was attacked by armed men suspected to be jinjaweed near Kas. The armed men robbed the passengers of their valuables, and two of the passengers, Abdalla Khirab and Mohammed Humid Jibrin, were shot and died later as they were being carried to Kas hospital. ¶C. On May 8, a group of jinjaweed launched an attack on an SLA camp in Beida Habilla. The attack lasted several hours and recorded heavy casualties on both sides. About 40 jinjaweed wounded in the attack were taken to El Geneina General Hospital, from where some of them were later flown to Khartoum on board two specially arranged flights for further treatment. The actual number of those receiving treatment and those flown to Khartoum could not be ascertained, as the team was not allowed access into the hospital wards. The team was also informed that the jinjaweed within El Geneina have mobilised themselves and were seen moving towards Beida Habilla for a repraisal attack on the SLA. ¶D. South Darfur - The UN has declared Kalma IDP camp a "no go" area for UN agency personnel until demonstrations protesting the DPA subside. On May 14, the USAID Field Officer in Nyala reported that the AU has withdrawn from all IDP camps surrounding Nyala, including Kalma, Al Salaam, Al Sereif, Otash, and Dereig. UNDSS reported that a group of six unknown armed men entered Dereig IDP camp after sunset on May 10 and abducted the camp's chief sheikh along with his brother. The kidnappers transported them to an undisclosed location near the airport and beat them severely. Both men were hospitalized following the incident, with the chief sheikh being released the next day. The same group entered the camp two more times during the night, kidnapping and beating two more sheikhs and haphazardly firing their weapons to intimidate the camp's population. Following the incident, GNU police stated they heard nothing, saw nothing, and reported nothing over the course of the night. ¶E. On May 13, MGS Kas reported that about 3500 demonstrators from Kas IDP camp demonstrated in front of AMIS camp. The demonstrators arrived with a dead body, alleging that the boy was killed by GOS police. The demonstrators rioted and killed a GOS Police Sergeant dressed in civilian clothes. The demonstrators also demanded that the GOS should release three prisoners that were detained earlier in the morning. The other group of demonstrators went to the AMIS borehole, about 400 m from the camp, and put stones and other items in the water tanker that was drawing water. The MGS reported that one demonstrator, a woman, was killed by the GOS as the demonstrators were withdrawing to their camp. ¶F. On May 13, MGS Geraida conducted a verification and confidence building patrol to Malwi and Abulala, where they learned that a group of unknown armed men on horses and two Land Cruisers had raided Malwi and killed a 25 year-old man and looted livestock belonging to locals on May 13. The assailants reportedly threatened to re- attack Malwi, a Bergit settlement, for final destruction. The assailants were said to be armed with AK47, G3 rifles, and machine guns. Malwi had about 7000 to 8000 people before the attack; the team observed only about 20 people presently living in the village. The team was informed that the other inhabitants had fled to Ambol and Geraida. KHARTOUM 00001153 002 OF 002 ¶G. On May 13, AMIS personnel in Abu Shouk and Al Salaam IDP camps indicated that IDPs attempted to burn the civilian police station. A group of roughly 600 people stormed the station and succeeded in setting fire to part of the tarpaulin fencing and caused damage to one AMIS vehicle packed at the station. The monitors at the station were immediately evacuated to Civpol Headquarters. UNDSS reported that AU vacated the camp and is no longer conducting patrols. Another demonstration is planned for May 15. UNDP reports that three women and 20 men who participated in the May 13 demonstration were arrested for disturbing the peace and are scheduled to appear before a judge on May 15. ¶3. Humanitarian Access Update (Source - AMIS and USAID): ¶A. On May 12, about five hundred new IDPs from Tuwail village arrived at Geraida after an attack on the village by jinjaweed militia on May 11. The jinjaweed looted livestock and other properties ¶B. On May 13, a civilian police detail determined that about 1000 IDPs had left Otash camp for their various towns and villages in Southern Sudan. The team was also found that on May 11 about 50 families comprising 150 persons had arrived from Umjogena, south of Nyala. ¶C. MSF-Holland reports an influx of Chadian refugees crossing the border near the Um Dukhom area as well as a concurrent increase in attacks on aid agencies traveling the roads in the area. ¶D. Due to a steady increase in IDP arrivals to Nyala, OCHA is convening a meeting on May 15. Several thousand IDPs have arrived to the area over the last week alone. OCHA plans to conduct assessment site visits to the major camps around Nyala to determine accurate numbers of new arrivals, where these new IDPs have come from, when they arrived, the reason for their displacement, camp capacity, and humanitarian response capacity required to accommodate these new arrivals. Agencies will discuss how best to respond to the increasing number of new arrivals, especially within the context of the return and resettlement work plan recently published by the South Darfur government. In response to this work plan, OCHA will reactivate the South Darfur Returns Working Group to address how agencies will function in this new operational environment and how the humanitarian community can best engage the government as it seeks to emphasize the rapid return of IDPs to their points of origin throughout South Darfur. HUME