FLASH ALERT: Forced Relocation in Soba Aradi Squatter Area

Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 11:31:37 +0300
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IN IS PRESENTED IN REAL TIME AND IS THEREFORE UNCONFIRMED
KHARTOUM, 18 May 2005 - At 05:00 today Government of Sudan (GOS) police and military (security forces) surrounded Soba Aradi Squatter Area in an attempt to prevent IDPs from leaving the area with the intent of relocating them to El Amal Town, south of Mayo Official IDP Camp. The IDPs resisted and gathered at the bus station. At 09:40 security forces opened fired. The situation remains extremely tense and reports suggest that IDPs have confiscated weapons from the security forces and up to five (5) security force officers have been killed and one (1) IDP has been killed. The number of wounded is unknown at this time. The situation is ongoing. UNOCHA is deeply concerned by this situation. The UN supports GOS' intent to re-plan identified current locations of displacement. However, the process by which demolitions, relocations and plot allocations are being undertaken constitute human rights violations, including forced return. Every attempt must be made at this time to stop demolitions and relocations, until suitable alternative arrangements (acceptable to the affected IDPs) are made. In all instances, forced relocation must end in the interests of protecting rights and livelihoods and preventing loss of life. One (1) UNOCHA international protection officer, and two (2) UNOCHA national officers are currently on their way to Soba Aradi to monitor the situation. They will not however enter the area if fighting is ongoing. The UN will brief the media on the situation at the 12:30 press briefing and Reuters has been contact to follow the story as it develops. Your government's immediate intervention at the political level is sort in the interests of calming the situation and preventing forced relocation and further loss of life. ===================================== Kirsten Zaat Advocacy Officer - Sustainable Returns Team OCHA Office in the Sudan Level 4, United Nations Assistance Mission in the Sudan PO Box 69 GARDEN CITY KHARTOUM SUDAN +249(0)912 170 946 (m) +249(0)187 08 6135 (w) http://by24fd.bay24.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=F122619763&a=e343c085ff027dee8683e255a0476a69&mailto=1&to=zaat@un.org&msg=MSG1116427760.16&start=1059186&len=5400&src=&type=x` ____________________________________________________ Sign the Nubian Petition to Save Nubian Land http://www.petitiononline.com/nubian/petition.html -- SOS SAVE NUBIA http://www.thenubian.net/tsunami.php ***************************************** *abubakr sidahmed(aia,asla,asq,aci,pmi) * *http://architect.thenubian.net * *http://thenubian.net * *http://www.lexicorient.com/e.o * *p.o.box 8970 -Dubai (UAE) * *mob.: +971506241352 * *fax:+97143517386 * ***************************************** ________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from the list send an email without a subject to: http://by24fd.bay24.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=F122619763&a=e343c085ff027dee8683e255a0476a69&mailto=1&to=LISTSERV@LIST.MSU.EDU&msg=MSG1116427760.16&start=1059186&len=5400&src=&type=x with "SIGNOFF SUDANESE" in the body of the email Archives of http://by24fd.bay24.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=F122619763&a=e343c085ff027dee8683e255a0476a69&mailto=1&to=SUDANESE@LIST.MSU.EDU&msg=MSG1116427760.16&start=1059186&len=5400&src=&type=x: http://list.msu.edu/archives/sudanese.html