Saturday, November 10, 2012

Darfur scenario or even the worst!?



 South Kordofan Governor, Ahmed Haroun vowed that no camps for refugees or internally displaced people (IDPs) will be established in South Kordofan State, pointing out that his government will not allow the repetition of Darfur scenario of establishing IDPs camps.

Addressing worshipers in Kadugly old mosque on Friday, Haroun accused the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) of spreading rumors and trying to create terror and panic among the citizens to undermine security and stability in the state and get an excuse to set up IDPs and refugees camps in the state.

The governor who did not address the real situation of the citizens in his state, went further to affirm that the government and people stand together to support the citizens of South Kordofan in their fighting against the insurgency in the state.

In the meantime, the UN refugee agency warned on Friday of an outbreak of hepatitis E that has already killed 26 refugees in South Sudanese camps, and is likely to grow with the influx of more people arriving at the camps from Sudan due to insecurity and worsening humanitarian conditions in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The U.N. refugees agency says the camps have been hit by 1,050 cases of hepatitis E, a life-threatening disease that attacks the liver and spreads through contaminated food and water, pointing out that thousands of new refugees fleeing fighting between rebels and the Sudanese government are expected in the next few weeks.

Paradoxically, the governor of South Kordofan, Ahmed Haroun, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity,  was the same guy who ruled the region of Darfur during the crisis in 2003 which led to the establishment of the refugee camps!

So with all the above facts, are we going to witness the same scenario of Darfur in South Kordofan state, where the response of government to insurgent acts in the western region of Darfur in 2003 resulted in the death of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of upwards of 2 million, taking into account that till now the tragic situation in Darfur remains unresolved, or are we even heading to the worst if the governor insists on his vow not to accept the repetition of the Darfur scenario of establishing refugees camps in his state?

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