Darfur IDPs say concerned by Sudan-Chad deal to return refugees
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July 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) —The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
voiced their deep concern over a deal to return Sudanese refugees from
the neighbouring Chad to Darfur saying necessary security and
humanitarian conditions not yet met.
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Sudanese refugees from Darfur wait to be interviewed at a camp in
eastern Chad (file photo HCR)
Chad is hosting over 250,000 thousands Sudanese from different parts
of Darfur residing since 2003 in 12 camps run by the UN refugee agency
HCR in the eastern part of the country .
On 27 July Sudan announced the signing of an agreement with Chad and
the UNHCR on voluntary return of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad
camps, following the signing of a peace agreement with the rebel
Liberation and Justice Movement in Doha on 14 July.
"We are deeply concerned by the recent agreement sealed between
Sudanese and Chadian governments to return our refugees from eastern
Chad to Darfur,” said Hussein Abu Sharati, Darfur IPDs and refugees
spokesperson.
Abu Sharati contested the deal stressing that no real improvement in
the security conditions in the region "the civilians continue to be
killed by the air strikes and the janjaweed militias," he said adding
"even within the camps people now fear the security agents who are
everywhere".
He further said the humanitarian conditions in IDPs camps are very
poor. "the residents of Darfur camps lack shelter, healthy water and
medication." Adding "how they intend to return them and nothing is
prepared to receive them".
Following the signing of the tripartite agreement on the voluntary
return of Darfurians Sudan’s Commissioner for Refugees Mohamed Ahmed
Alagbash said the amelioration of bilateral relations with Chad and
signing of Doha agreement created good environment for the return of
the refugees.
He further stressed that the voluntary return should be completed in
three steps, starting with briefing the refugees on the process and
providing them with the necessary support to prepare it. After what
starts the registration and a timetable for the effective return is
determined.
Sudan and Chad who normalized bilateral ties and deployed a joint
force to patrol the border signed different political, economic and
security agreements to enhance the bilateral ties between the two
countries after some five years of proxy war.
China also agreed to fund a 2 billion road linking the two country.
Two days ago, the Chadian rebel National Alliance for Change and
Democracy (ANCD) said Sudanese authorities handed 27 rebels over to
Ndjamena where they are now arrested and tortured.
Since 2010 the UNHCR shifted its operational mode from an emergency
mode to care and maintenance. The eastern Chad camps were a subject of
big concern and polemic over the situation of refugees there.
Sudan accused the rebel groups of recruiting children from the camps
with the tacit support of the Chadian authorities and the aid groups.
In turn, Sudan was accused of attacking the camps and killing
civilians.
The camps also were the destination of Hollywood actors to show their
solidarity with Darfur people and officers of the International
Criminal Court who successfully collected some valuable eyewitness
testimonies before to indict Sudanese officials including President
Omer Al-Bashir of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
(ST)
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