Sudan: Displaced civilians in Darfur region urged to return home

Sudan’s military has called on civilians displaced by two weeks of fighting in Darfur’s Jebel Marra, to return to their homes.

They claim they have captured most of the area, believed to be a stronghold of the Sudan Liberation Army rebels, who have urged the international community to intervene and protect civilians.

Tens of thousands of people are thought to have fled the area after clashes flared between insurgents and troops in mid-January.

According to the army spokesman, security forces will continue surveying the region to curb any other attacks.

The latest clashes came after a period of relative calm following President Omar al-Bashir’s extension of a ceasefire in the area in a New Year’s Eve speech.

As a result of the violence, the UN reports that this is the worst civilian displacement seen in the past decade.

The Jebel Marra region is inaccessible hence difficult to establish the exact figure of displaced persons.