The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says 16,200 people have been displaced as a result of intercommunal clashes in Sudan’s Bileil locality in South Darfur.

The clashes erupted last week between youth from Arab Rezeigat and the Dajio tribe, with SUNA news outlet reporting that at least 11 people were killed.

In response to the clashes, the Security Committee of the State of South Darfur dispatched forces consisting of troops from the Joint Forces to restore calm in the region.

“Initial reports indicated that several return villages in Bileil locality were burnt including Amori, Gimaiza Arba, Saiengo, Um Himeada, Kamaski, Tagla and Doka,” said OCHA.

“The villages belong to the Daijo tribe and are populated with more than 10,000 spontaneous and seasonal returnees from IDP camps including Kalma, Otash, Dereige and Bileil,” it added.

The UN agency also noted that the displaced people sought refuge in Dereige IDP camp in Nyala locality, Kalma and Bileil camps in Bileil locality and Domma IDP camp in Mershing locality.

Others moved to Tamara, Sheigei and Ta’aisha villages situated in Niteiga locality.

The governor of South Darfur State, Hamid Mohamed Al-Tigani Hanoun, also declared a state of emergency in the state, as well as a curfew within Belail Locality, starting from December 24 until further notice.