A/HRC/33/65 to sell some of the university buildings, and continued until 14 April. The 27 students were released without charge on 16 April 2016. F. Human rights violations and abuses in conflict-affected areas 40. There was a significant upsurge in armed conflicts perpetrated by both State and non-States actors during the reporting period. The ongoing conflict in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur, the fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States and intercommunal clashes continued to result in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and large-scale displacement of civilians. 1. Darfur 41. During the reporting period, the security situation in Darfur was marked by an escalation in fighting between government forces and the Sudan Liberation MovementAbdul Wahid. The Independent Expert was concerned by the detrimental effects of the conflict on civilians in the light of allegations of human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including indiscriminate killings, destruction and burning of villages, abduction of and sexual violence against women, as well as largescale displacement of civilians. 42. According to information received, during the first five months of 2016, around 80,000 people were reportedly newly displaced across Darfur. An additional 142,000 people were also reportedly displaced, but the United Nations had been unable to verify these figures owing to lack of access to the affected areas. The vast majority of displacements in 2016 had been triggered by the conflict in Jebel Marra, as well as intercommunal clashes. 43. The human rights and humanitarian situation in Eastern Darfur remained a matter of concern, with killings and displacement of civilians owing to intercommunal clashes. The Independent Expert noted with concern that, during the reporting period, the size and scale of intercommunal clashes over cattle rustling and control of natural resources in Eastern Darfur had been unprecedented, as were the sophisticated firearms used by the combatants. 44. The Independent Expert is of the view that a sustainable solution to this problem would involve proactive remedial measures to address impunity in the region and a welldesigned and peaceful civilian disarmament campaign. He calls upon the Government to take pertinent measures to strengthen accountability for human rights violations and abuses as well as violations of international humanitarian law in Eastern Darfur State and other parts of Darfur. 45. He calls upon the authorities of the Sudan, who bear the primary responsibility for the protection of human rights in Darfur, and all other parties to the conflict to respect the rights of the civilian population. (a) Situation of internally displaced persons 46. The Independent Expert visited the Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons in Northern Darfur, where residents expressed concern about the shortage of food and the limitations with regard to opportunities to acquire skills to help improve life chances, including income-generating activities for women. In addition, the security situation inside and outside the camp remained a matter of concern owing to the presence of various armed individuals and criminality in the region. 9