News / Africa

UN: 100,000 Flee Sudan's Abyei Region

A gunner from Zambia serving with the international peacekeeping operation is seen on an armored personnel carrier during a patrol in the region of Abyei, central Sudan, May 30, 2011
A gunner from Zambia serving with the international peacekeeping operation is seen on an armored personnel carrier during a patrol in the region of Abyei, central Sudan, May 30, 2011
TEXT SIZE - +

The United Nations refugee agency says the number of people who have fled Sudan's disputed Abyei region has reached 100,000.

A spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Fatounata Lejeune-Kaba, said most of them are seeking refuge in Warrap state, south of Abyei.

U.N. officials believe many displaced persons are still hiding in the bush and desperately need food, water and other basic aid.

Many of the refugees began fleeing the north-south border region last month, after northern troops seized control of Abyei.

The south is preparing to declare independence from the north on July 9, and the two sides have not agreed on the future of the oil-rich region.

Khartoum has rejected calls by the U.N. Security Council to withdraw its forces.

Officials fear the renewed tensions could plunge Sudan into a new civil war. North and south Sudan fought for 21 years before the conflict ended with a 2005 peace agreement.

On Monday, the U.N. Mission in Sudan called on the north's armed forces to bring the looting in Abyei to a halt, release civilians in its custody, and allow unrestricted and safe access to people in need of humanitarian aid.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

You May Like

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

India, China Pledge to Overcome Border Tensions

Indian prime minister and Chinese premier attempt to move past tense standoff in the Himalayas during Delhi talks More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Valley Fever Raises Concerns in California, Arizona

A longstanding health problem in California's Central Valley has worsened in recent years, leading health officials to order the relocation of 3,000 prisoners from two state prisons. But the disease affects much of the population in some rural communities and, Mike O'Sullivan reports, while it often goes unnoticed, it sometimes can be devastating for patients.