Darfuri youth living with no hope
22 January 2008, 10:00AM
© AI
The security situation for internally displaced people in Darfur is on a knife-edge, and a generation of Darfuris are growing up in extreme fear and insecurity in camps awash with weapons.
The warning comes as we release a new report - 'Displaced in Darfur: A generation of anger' - which outlines the insecurity in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Darfur, as well as the potential consequences and possible remedies.
Almost all of the camps in Darfur are flooded with weapons. The security situation in and outside of the camps continues to deteriorate, as hopes of a political resolution to the conflict recede and hostilities between the government and armed groups continue to escalate.
The welfare of the displaced people continues to be ignored, while armed groups and the government bicker and impede the full deployment of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) forces: the forces have just ended their third week of operations in Darfur. There can be no durable peace without ensuring that the security and human rights of these displaced people are respected and upheld.
Armed groups continue to use the camps to recruit fighters – including children. Darfuri youth live in a situation where there appears to be no hope for the present or future. Angry and frustrated, some of them join armed groups.
"Ali", an internally displaced person, in the Abu Shouk camp, told us: "The boys of 18 - they are lost. They have no work, especially the graduates, they live on relief."
The internally displaced have been left largely unprotected. The African Union force, which was supposed to protect them, was outmanned and outgunned by Janjawid and armed opposition groups who attacked them.
The same fate will befall UNAMID forces unless clear signals are sent to the warring parties that attacks on UNAMID and civilians are not acceptable. In addition, urgent steps must be taken to ensure the Sudanese government removes all impediments to the complete deployment of UNAMID forces. The international community must also adequately strengthen UNAMID’s resource capacity, including through the provision of ground and air transport equipment.
The Sudanese army and police - who are also meant to protect civilians - are seen as antagonistic rather than protective by IDPs, who they often arbitrarily arrest outside the camps on the suspicion that they are members of armed opposition groups.
Some camps, such as Kalma, have members of as many as 29 different ethnic groups. Most Kalma camp residents have arms. We have learned that many of the youth in the camp have formed vigilante groups based on their ethnic origin - Fur, Masalit, Zaghawa and Dajo.
The UN recorded more than 10 armed incidents in Kalma camp between 16 and 22 October 2007. "Much of the violence has been attributed to armed Fur, including children, against other ethnic groups in the camp," said a UN spokesperson.
The presence of weapons in the camps has worsened an already volatile security situation for everyone. In some IDP camps a revolver can be bought for only US$25 - leading to widespread incidents of robbery and assault. In this charged atmosphere of anger, fear, insecurity and political disagreements, quarrels often turn tragic.
Displaced women are at constant risk of being raped when they venture outside their camps to find firewood or food. Although most victims of rape accuse Janjawid militia, there are also reports of rape being committed by members of the Sudanese army, the police and other armed opposition groups - including Sudan Liberation Army(SLA) and Minni Minawi (MM) soldiers. Women also say they are sometimes raped by displaced men inside the IDP camps.
"Mahmud", an internally displaced man in al-Jeneina, told us: "Women are still going out to collect firewood, which is a danger to them as they may be raped. But we men are still letting them go, because the men who collect firewood may be killed."
We call on the UN forces in Darfur to ensure the protection of the internally displaced, including by stationing units near each camp and by constant patrolling - including accompanying people collecting firewood.
UNAMID must be given the resources to fully ensure the protection of all civilians in Darfur. In addition, all parties to the conflict must immediately stop attacking civilians and facilitate the deployment of UNAMID forces to all affected areas.
To view the report click here.
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