The United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid) forces have conducted wide redeployment in the camps for the displaced in Sudan's Darfur region.

A Unamid source, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media, said around 500 troops had been redeployed in many camps in North and

South Darfur in order to protect the civilians.

He confirmed that the troops first arrived at Kalma camp, located southeast of South Darfur’s capital Nyala.

Kalma camp has witnessed widespread violence from raids by the government forces backed by militias.

IDPs from the camp said the peacekeepers arrived in armoured vehicles, armed with various weapons.

Sources said the Unamid force commander on Tuesday met with the representatives of the IDPs, including women and youth leaders.

“The force commander requested the camp leaders to provide them with the names of the places where the displaced usually collect water, or firewood and straw, the location of farmlands they tend, and the places where bricks are produced,” they explained.

Militia activities

The Unamid commander, the sources added, promised that they would soon develop a plan to protect the populations against attacks by the armed groups.

The displaced mostly collect water and firewood from Dama, Mireir and Birkatouli, some 40km north of the camp, as well as from Taisha and Girein Fawri, 50km east of the camp.

Alternatively, they collect the items from Reel, Marla, Hejer, Tono and Um Gunja, which are about 50km south of Kalma.

The residents of Kalma camp were not only suffering from assaults by militiamen, but have also been the victims of repeated raids and searches by security forces.

The IDPs staged a demonstration against the raids on September 5, during which the security forces killed four of them and wounded several others as they dispersed the protesters.

The Sudanese authorities have declared a state of emergency in Darfur to combat the extensive illegal militia activities.

The UN Security Council last July ordered an investigation into allegations by former Unamid spokeswoman Aicah Albesari that the mission was covering up the crimes and misleading the agency.