UN: Over 70,000 people displaced due to violence in Sudan's Southern Kordofan

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UN: Over 70,000 people displaced due to violence in Sudan's Southern Kordofan

2011-06-23 05:25:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Wednesday informed that more than 70,000 people have been displaced due to the violence in the Sudanese state of Southern Kordofan.

The displacements were caused by heavy fighting between the northern army known as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of Southern Sudan.

"The treatment of civilians in South Kordofan, including the reported human rights abuses and targeting of people along ethnic lines, is reprehensible," said Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Amos also called for an immediate end to insecurity and movement restrictions which limit the ability of UN staff and humanitarian personnel to asses the situation and to provide Sudanese people with the necessary aid.

Last week, four UN peacekeepers were detained and abused by SAF members. The UN condemned the act against its staff members who were on patrol in Kadugli, the main town in Southern Kordofan.

"The overall security situation in Sudan is deteriorating at an alarming rate, and civilians are increasingly bearing the brunt of the volatile and uncertain political climate," added Amos.

On Monday, the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed an agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to reduce tensions in Abyei region and to allow passage of peacekeepers.

"I commend the parties for taking this step forward toward peace, and I urge them now to build on that progress and agree to an immediate cease fire in Southern Kordofan," said U.S. President Barack Obama.

The U.S. leader said on Wednesday that the situation in Southern Kordofan was 'dire' and condemned all acts of violence, in particular the SAF aerial bombardment of civilians, the harassment and intimidation of UN peacekeepers, and attacks based on ethnicity.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the agreement to demilitarize the area of Abyei and establish an administration and police service in the disputed area. He also urged all parties to comply with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which officially ended the long north-south civil war in Sudan.

Earlier this year, millions of Southern Sudan residents voted in favor of separating from the rest of the African nation. However, the referendum on Abyei's status never took place amidst disagreements on voter eligibility. SAF and SPLA continue fighting over control of the conflicted area.

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