SUDO UK PRESS RELEASE - Update June 11th 2011

The Sudanese Government and international community are failing to provide humanitarian assistance for tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting in South Kordofan. Reports today from El Obeid are saying that there is a continuous influx of thousands of displaced people from Southern Kordofan. Lorries carrying between 50/60 person are continuously arriving in El Saleheen (a transport station, at the entrance of El Obeid from the South). Currently in El Saleheen there are around 12,000 to 15,000 displaced people, the great majority are women and children. The displaced people are being received by the Sudanese Red Crescent, registered, and told to depart to another transport station for buses to Khartoum, or if they have any relatives in El Obeid they have to go to them. No assistance is being offered at the reception station other than water from a barrel. The very meager supplies of food available is being offered is by individuals from El Obeid city. The three camps which were opened in Erahad town on the 8th (see previous statement below) have reportedly been forcibly closed and the displaced people were ordered to travel to Khartoum and stay with relatives or to join any relatives they have living in Erahad town. It seems the Sudanese Government is determined to avoid the creation of IDP camps (as happened in Darfur) and to restrict the activities of humanitarian NGOs. A humanitarian disaster is unfolding for the desperate civilians fleeing the fighting in Southern Kordofan but the response of the international community has so far been totally inadequate. There is an urgent need for the immediate provision of humanitarian assistance including food, medicines and shelter. Pressure must be exercised on the Sudanese authorities to ensure that such assistance can be delivered. Statement issued by SUDO (UK) on 11th June 2011. Contact andrew.SUDO.UK@gmail.com for any further information.

June 10th Statement for background The ongoing fighting in South Kordofan has created massive displacement of the civilian population. On June 8th 2011 a first wave of displaced persons, most of them children, women and elders, were received in 3 reception camps in Erahad town in Erahad locality on the border

with South Kordofan and according to sources from the ground these camps have received 832 persons in two days, more than 400 persons per day. According to the displaced people thousands have fled the fighting areas and are wandering in the bush trying to make their way out to safe havens. They say the towns of Al fed Abdala, Dalami, Khor Daleb, Khor Albied and Um Brembeeta have been evacuated and turned into a battle field between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) troops. The displaced persons received in the schools in Erahad locality depend on the limited food aid that individuals in the town are able to provide. There is no food reserve to meet the need of the increasing number of new comers. Mothers in the camps have said that the type of food available has caused diarrhea in their children and there are grave fears for the health of the displaced people. The local reception committee has said that there are no options to get other food to meet the needs of the displaced people. There is a severe lack of medicines and medical personnel. Fighting is spreading all over South Kordofan State and more waves of displaced people were received in Debaibat (a far northern town in South Kordofan), numbers are in tens of thousands and in El Obeid the capital of North Kordofan. More displaced persons are expected to arrive to Debaibat, ElObeid and Erahad town. The reception camps in Erahad are currently located in the local schools which in principle should open for classes in the coming week. Shelter is therefore also urgently needed because the rainy season is approaching. There is an urgent need to secure a reliable supply of food and medical care. Recommendation The international community should take urgent measures to ensure the protection of civilians in South Kordofan and in the areas to which they have been displaced. In particular there is an urgent need for the rapid provision of humanitarian assistance including food, medicines and shelter.