Janjaweed 'growing' in Darfur

2004-07-29 09:10

United Nations - Insecurity is reigning in Darfur, as the presence of Janjaweed militia members grows in the western part of the province, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said on Wednesday.

Okabe said humanitarian groups have noted that North Darfur "is still experiencing insecurity, with attacks on commercial trucking (but not on relief convoys), occurring on a daily basis in some areas."

Also in the north, the humanitarian groups said, "the Sudanese government is intimidating and harassing internally displaced persons, as it tries to get them to return to their villages," Okabe told reporters.

Displaced people in the camps at Abu Shuk and Zam Zam "have reiterated that they are too afraid to return to their villages," she noted.

In the western part of the province, she added, "the Janjaweed presence is reported to be increasing."

Conflict in Darfur has left up to 50 000 people dead and forced 1.2 million people from their homes, according to UN figures.

The Janjaweed, the main Arab militia group allied with the government, has been blamed for much of the atrocities against civilians in Darfur.

- AFP