Khartoum planning to relocate displaced people

The Khartoum state authorities have announced plans to relocate some 230,000 displaced people in the vicinity of the capital, humanitarian sources told IRIN on Wednesday. The announcement was made last week to aid organisations by the Humanitarian Aid Department (HAD) in Khartoum, in keeping with the government's decision to continue with the replanning of Greater Khartoum. Observers said the plan provides for moving people from the main camps of Jebl Aulia, Mayo Farms, Wad el Bashir and El Salaam to areas further east. The observers note that the majority of displaced people come from southern and western areas of Sudan, and live a "hand to mouth existence". Famine and conflict in their home areas have sent them flocking towards Khartoum since the mid-80s. Noting this is not the first time displaced people have been relocated around Khartoum, the sources expressed concern over the timing with the onset of the rainy season. The HAD commissioner has reportedly agreed to discuss the relocation plan with the humanitarian community and said full consideration will be given to the potential hardships, especially during the coming rainy season.