UNAMID concerned over violence in South Darfur, calls for unhindered access

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, March 3, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is deeply concerned over reports of an escalation in violence in South Darfur over the course of the past several days.

The violence has resulted in the reported burning of a number villages and the displacement of a large number of civilians in the vicinity of Um Gunya, located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Nyala.

The Mission has received reports of looting, arson and civilian casualties, as well as the arrival of newly displaced populations into the Al Salam and Kalma camps for internally displaced persons.

Peacekeepers have attempted to access the affected areas on several occasions, but have been denied passage by the authorities.

UNAMID calls upon the authorities to allow the Mission unhindered and immediate access to these areas, so that it can carry out its core activity for the protection of civilians as mandated by the African Union and the United Nations and as consented to by the Government of Sudan.