A/HRC/24/31 G. Armed conflicts and protection of civilians 36. Armed conflicts and lack of security continue to be major sources of human rights violations in different parts of the Sudan. Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, specifically, continue to experience sporadic cycles of armed conflicts, violent attacks and banditry, which have had an effect on civilians during the reporting period. Darfur 37. The dynamics of the conflicts in Darfur have evolved over the last 10 years. The armed attacks in the region have taken different forms, including tribal clashes, aerial strikes by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF) and clashes between pro-Government militia and armed rebels, all of which have led to civilian casualties, destruction of property and displacements. While there has been relative improvement over the years, as a result of the good work of UNAMID and other United Nations agencies working in the region, the security situation remains volatile and precarious.1 38. In North Darfur, tribal clashes in Jebel Amir, Kutum, Abu Deleg, Saraf Omra and Kabkabiya have led to large civilian casualties and displacements. November 2012 to March 2013 witnessed an upsurge in fighting between the SAF and rebel groups, particularly in East and South Darfur, and violent clashes between different Arab tribes in North, South, West and Central Darfur, from January to August 2013, which resulted in continuing insecurity, human rights violations, destruction and looting of property as well as civilian displacements. 39. In July and August 2013, ongoing clashes between the Rezeigat and Maaliya tribes in East Darfur reportedly resulted in many civilians being killed. There were also reports of SAF aerial strikes on suspected armed rebel positions in East Jebel Mara locality in South Darfur, the Afara mountains and Tabit in North Darfur, and Um Gonya area in South Darfur. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of these armed attacks and clashes which result in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including arbitrary deprivation of life, injury to persons, destruction and looting of homes and businesses, destruction of livestock and mass displacements. 40. Over the last six months, the number of people displaced in Darfur increased considerably. The influx of new internally displaced persons (IDPs) in different camps in Darfur – such as Al Salam, Kalma, Otash, Dereige, Graida and Katalya – has stretched the capacity of humanitarian actors to provide assistance in a timely manner. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 235,000 people were newly displaced between January 2013 and April 2013.2 In July 2013, the estimated number of displaced persons rose to 300,000, exceeding the combined total of displaced persons in Darfur within the past two years.3 41. The security and safety of IDPs in Darfur remain a matter of grave concern. While many IDPs have expressed the desire to return to their places of origin, the ongoing armed conflicts and violent clashes make it difficult for them to do so. During his visits to Darfur, 1 2 3 10 See reports of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (S/2013/22, S/2013/225 and S/2013/420). OCHA, Eastern Africa: Displaced Populations report (Issue 14, 30 September 2012 – 31 March 2013), p. 11, available from http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Displaced%20Populations%20Report%20Sept% 202012%20-%20March%202013.pdf. Report of the Secretary-General on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, S/2013/420, para. 13.