DARFUR: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN JEBEL MARRA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000336 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU GENEVA FOR NKYLOH UN ROME FOR HSPANOS NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SMIG UN SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN JEBEL MARRA REF: 10 KHARTOUM 282; 10 KHARTOUM 254; 09 KHARTOUM 487 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Fighting between members of the armed opposition group Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Jebel Marra, an area transecting all three Darfur states, remains ongoing and has extended to the SLA/AW stronghold of Deribat, according to humanitarian sources. However, the full scale and scope of fighting remain unknown due to lack of access to affected areas. On February 25, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator hosted a high-level donors meeting to share information regarding the humanitarian situation in Jebel Marra and to commence discussions regarding possible response strategies. The number of people affected remains unknown and relief agencies continue to plan for humanitarian needs assessments and response activities pending access to affected populations. End Summary. -------------- RECENT CONFLICT IN JEBEL MARRA -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Humanitarian organizations report that between February 10 and 25 fighting occurred between SAF and members of the armed opposition group SLA/AW in Kara, Leiba, Fugoli, Feina, Kidingeer and Deribat towns in the eastern Jebel Marra area of Darfur resulting in an unknown number of casualties. Relief agencies indicate that fighting continues in Deribat, and that affected areas remain unstable due to a pattern of continued attacks and attempts to regain control of affected areas. According to the UN, combatants had conducted attacks by land; however, February 25 reports indicate the possibility of broadened military tactics including the use of SAF aircraft and helicopters gunships. ¶3. On February 24, UN sources received reports of an imminent SAF attack on SLA/AW forces in Deribat, also indicating that local people had fled the village. (Note: Deribat serves as a de facto civil administration and sometime military headquarters for SLA/AW in the "liberated zone" of East Jebel Marra. Special Envoy Gration visited Deribat in April 2009 (ref C). End Note.) At noon, SAF forces reportedly entered the abandoned village and allegedly looted, burned, and destroyed structures including water sources. ¶4. (SBU) Conflict also occurred among SLA/AW factions in the western Jebel Marra area of Darfur between late December 2009 and early February 2010 resulting in an unknown number of internally displaced persons (IDP). IDP leaders and Sudanese government authorities reported that fighting had resulted in approximately 35,000 displaced people; however, humanitarian agencies have been unable to independently verify this figure. UN agencies have commenced response activities in areas where relief agencies can access IDPs and plan to expand response activities pending access to affected areas and verification of displacement. -------------- HUMANITARIAN SITUATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU). During the February 25 meeting, the UN reported that the number of people killed, injured, and displaced by ongoing fighting remains unknown. The UN stated that between 100,000 and 120,000 people reside in eastern Jebel Marra where fighting continues. The UN suggested that Deribat will likely experience the greatest population displacement due to the intensity of attacks reported in the area. Humanitarian agencies raise concern that populations that have reportedly fled into the hill areas of Jebel Marra may become trapped by continued fighting and will remain inaccessible to relief agencies. ¶6. (SBU). According to the UN and humanitarian partners, fighting has resulted in looting of relief agency offices, residences, and facilities, including health clinics and water distribution points. In addition, combatants have reportedly seized health assets in particular, resulting in a possible shortage of health supplies for affected populations. -------------- HUMANITARIAN ACCESS KHARTOUM 00000336 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The UN plans to conduct an interagency assessment mission to the affected areas of eastern Jebel Marra during the first week of March. However, the UN remains concerned regarding lack of access due to ongoing fighting, particularly in Deribat. The humanitarian community continues to endeavor to gain access to affected areas noting a requirement for high-level coordination given that fighting has affected populations in all three Darfur states. In addition, the UN noted that the situation may require increased advocacy to obtain a cease-fire for the purpose of developing a humanitarian corridor. ¶8. (SBU) The UN noted that access to affected populations is additionally reduced by the diminishing presence of humanitarian staff in areas of conflict. On February 11, the UN relocated 27 humanitarian staff members by air from Feina, Deribat, and Kidingeer to Nyala, South Darfur due to continued fighting, further reducing field staff presence and access to affected populations. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The UN expressed concern that the loss of SLA/AW control in some areas may result in continued and increasing displacement due to the local population's loyalty to SLA/AW. End comment. ASQUINO