Conflict in Sudan's Jebel Marra area sparks largest civilian uprooting in years: UN relief wing

The flare-up in conflict in the restive Jebel Marra region of Sudan has triggered the largest civilian displacement seen in years, a UN spokesman said here Monday, citing reports of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

About 38,000 civilians have fled into North Darfur, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

More than 23,000 people, 90 percent of whom are women and children, sought shelter near a team site of the African Union-UN Mission (UNAMID) in the area of Sortony, and nearly 14,000 others are in the areas of Tawila and Kebkabiya, he added.

Since last December, the government forces have launched a large-scale offensive on the Susan Liberation Movement in Jebel Marra in the center of Darfur region.

"Following the intensification of fighting, the AU-UN Mission has implemented contingency plans to ensure the protection of civilians through a reinforced military and police presence at its team sites in North and Central Darfur, while continuing to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance," Dujarric said.

"Together with humanitarian partners, the Mission has engaged with the government to advocate for full and unhindered access to affected areas," he said.

A humanitarian convoy escorted by UNAMID reached Sortoni, in North Darfur, on Sunday. OCHA also said that a 24-truck convoy is also on its way to El Fasher, the main city in North Darfur State. Enditem