El Fasher, 28 August 2011 – An Integrated task team led by the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) comprising of representatives of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNAMID civilian staff, military and police component today escorted back to their respective homes the five Sheiks who had been sheltering in UNAMID in Kalma camp for over a year.

This follows the state amnesty by the Wali of South Darfur on 27 August to several persons including the five Sheikhs on the occasion of the feast of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan.

The Sheikhs thanked the Mission and the entire UN family for the protection granted during the past 14 months. Sheikh Ali, the paramount head of Kalma camp expressed appreciation to UNAMID for its role.

UNAMID and UN country team are considering the possibility of providing the Sheikhs with food rations since they have been away from their families for a long time and also in view of the forthcoming Eid celebrations. UNAMID peacekeepers stationed in Kalma camp presented them with some food items.