Friday, August 31, 2012

Sudan: Displaced population returns to Kassab camp

UN-AU Mission in Darfur

El Fasher, 30 August 2012 – About 80 percent of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had fled Kassab camp to Kutum town, North Darfur, in the aftermath of the recent attacks, have returned to their camp, according to UN agencies on the ground.

Following the incident, the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been providing round-the-clock presence, continuous patrols, monitoring movements in and around the camp and facilitating humanitarian assistance.

In addition to the UNAMID 24/7 presence, humanitarian agencies and NGO partners have been able to resume their activities in the camp. Food distribution began, a mobile clinic is operating and an assessment of the needs of the affected population is ongoing to provide the assistance required, including non-food items such as plastic sheets, mats and blankets.

Kassab camp was attacked and looted by armed men following the killing of the commissioner of the Alwaha district and this driver in Kutum town on 1 August. The incidents forced more than 25,000 IDPs from the camp to flee and seek refuge among the host population in Kutum town.