Sudan: Tribal clashes in Darfur force 70,000 to flee this month alone

Tribal clashes in North Darfur, Sudan have forced an estimated 70,000 people from their homes since the beginning of this month. Reports indicate that on 5 January, violence erupted between the Abbala and Benni Hussein tribes over the control of gold mines in the Jebel Amer area, including the looting and burning of villages perpetrated by both sides. People sought refuge in schools, local public buildings, or with host families across several towns in the area. After the fighting prevented the completion of an early assessment mission, a two-day assessment mission by the joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID) in mid-January found the newly displaced people to be in dire need of access to water, food, healthcare, and basic non-food items. IDPs also urgently need adequate shelter and blankets to brave the winter cold. Even with a number of IDPs within Darfur returning to their homes in 2012, renewed fighting in the region – militia attacks, aerial bombing and tribal clashes – has forced at least90,000 people to flee over the last year. At the end of 2012, at least 1.4 million IDPs were still living in camps in the region.