Stop the bloodshed in El Geneina and Port Sudan: Tens of IDPs and civilians killed in an inter-communal conflict in West and East Sudan

Darfur, 7th January 2020 - Oxfam in Sudan is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in West Darfur and Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

In West Darfur, a violent conflict that erupted on 29th December 2019, resulted in deadly attacks on internally displaced persons (IDPs) leading to the killing and injury of civilians in El Geneina - West Darfur state, in Western Sudan, where 54 people were confirmed dead, 60 injured and 5,000 people crossed the border from El Geneina area into Chad seeking refuge in villages near the border with Sudan according to UN OCHA Flash Report on 5th January, 2020. Approximately 5,000 people have crossed the border from the Geneina area into Chad, seeking refuge in villages near the border with Sudan.

Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and partners estimate that approximately 40,000 people have been displaced, including 32,000 from three IDP camps (Krinding 1, 2, and Al Sultan camp), and the rest from Kreding, Bab Al Jenan, Dar AlSalam, and Dar Alnaiem villages. In Port Sudan, in East Sudan, renewed tribal conflict has resulted in killing of 15 civilians and injury of 127 persons including 7 policemen as reported on Sudan’s Tribune website on 5th January 2020.

Oxfam extends its condolences to the families of the victims and calls upon all parties to exercise utmost self-restraint.

Yagoub Osman, Oxfam’s Acting Country Director has noted with concern an alarming pattern of such incidents in the country and urges concerned parties to: quickly maintain law and order, address root causes of inter-communal conflicts and expedite processes to reach lasting peace in Darfur, Red Sea and the rest of Sudan. Osman further urges humanitarian agencies working in Sudan to effectively respond to the dire needs of the affected communities.