Floods near Kassala - summer 2007

In July, 2007, heavy rains in east Africa caused extensive flooding. Thousands of people became homeless. Have a look at this one minute video that shows the breadth of the Gash River in flood, food distribution to Beja men, and the flooded landscape as filmed from the air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch0554Tplcg

Government control of nomadic routes

The Beja do not live in Darfur. But many are nomadic, and ideas and policies that are put in place in one part of the country can be started in another place too.

The government is planning to limit the range of travel of nomads in west Sudan. Does this kind of control have hidden dangers? What happens when there is not enough rain? Traditional behaviour among nomadic people would mean that their range of travel would be increased until pastures are located.
Here's the short report.

Nomads Must Observe Corridors Determined by Commission in South Darfur/ Nomads Commission (SMC)

Nomads' commission in south Darfur state has set a plan targeting nomads' settlements.

The move aims at preventing frictions between nomads and formers, said nomads' commissioner Issa Allyan. Besides settlement camps which should be provided with basic services such as school, health and water services, the commission is arranging for setting corridors and that nomads should observe the commission decisions.

From UNMIS Daily Media Monitoring Report - Jan 15, 2008

Eastern Front representatives frustrated

Peace agreement not working, Eastern rebels tell Eritrea
(The Citizen) The Eastern Front is in Eritrea to tell the former rebel backers that the
peace agreement is hanging by a thread.
The Eastern front delegation, headed by Musa Mohamed Ahmed, yesterday arrived to Asmara Airport. The delegation, which included the Dr. Amna Dirar and Secretary General Dr. Mubarak Mabrouk, was received by the Eritrean Front executive member, Abdallah Jabir.

The EF leader Dr. Mohamed Abu Amna attacked GoNU saying that it is not a government of national unity as the National Congress Party has the majority in the parliament. He added that the Front representatives are completely neglected and have no real missions or responsibilities to do.

“Asmara agreement has done nothing to marginalized people of the East, and our people there are still suffering from ignorance, diseases and poverty”, he lamented. Abu Amna concluded by saying that the policy is to ‘divide and rule” and this is actually what is being done in the East.