Sudan / Abyei: Fighting in Abyei displaces thousands
| Publisher | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) |
| Publication Date | 26 May 2011 |
| Cite as | Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC), Sudan / Abyei: Fighting in Abyei displaces thousands , 26 May 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4de367942.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
On 19 May an UNMIS convoy transporting 200 troops of Joint Integrated Units (JIU) of the Sudan Armed Forces to their designated post, was fired upon by unidentified attackers. As a result, fighting between SAF and SPLA broke out and intensified in and around villages north and east of Abyei town as well as in Abyei town itself. Within two days SAF entered Abyei town and reportedly continue operations to secure control of the town and surrounding villages.
Reports indicate that most of the civilian population has left Abyei town and has moved to various locations in Southern Sudan. It is not yet clear how many of the 11,000 former residents of Abyei have been displaced.
The Humanitarian Coordinator called on all parties to take the necessary measures to protect
the civilian population and their property, to ensure the safe passage of civilians on the move and to safeguard their right to return. Mr. Charpentier called for unimpeded humanitarian access in order to ascertain the whereabouts of the displaced population, conduct assessments, and provide the necessary emergency relief.
