is an Internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp situated 25km from the town of Nyala, South of Darfur. It hosts nearly 90,000 inhabitants, fleeing the fighting between rebel groups and government. The displaced at Kalma camp depend almost exclusively on international assistance for their subsistence. They are far from their planting fields, their main source of livelihood before the conflict. Kalma is one of the largest shelters for displaced people in Darfur.

Police in the camp:

There is no Sudanese government or police presence in Kalma camp. After the government police tried to arrest one of the sheikhs, the angry crowds chased the police and the government camp managers out, burning down their offices. So the police are now stationed a few kilometres outside the entrance to the camp

UNAMID in charge of protection:

Only African Union had a police station inside the camp and the AU civilian police had only a couple of vehicles and one translator at the camp, making routine patrolling difficult. UNAMID replaced AU and started operating in Darfur on the 1st January 2008.

UNAMID peacekeeping force has responsibility under United Nations Resolution No. 1769, to protect civilians in Darfur, including camps for the internally displaced.

Violence chases IDPs:

On Monday 25 August, Sudanese security forces entered Kalma camp, resulting in a number of casualties. It is reported that the security forces intended to disarm and arrest the residents of Kalma Camp in possession of weapons,

According to Government of Sudan (GoS) authorities, its military and police forces were granted a search warrant for drugs and weapons by the South Darfur Attorney General and decided to raid the camp to execute this warrant.

UNAMID Security indicated that 60 GoS forces vehicles surrounded Kalma camp at 0730hrs and their attempts to forcibly enter the camp were resisted by the IDPs.

The situation escalated into confrontation and exchange of gunfire, with no indication as to who started it. Humanitarian staff, who left the camp, reported that the shooting lasted for about 2hrs.

The events drew international condemnation.

More About IDP Camps in Darfur