Kolmalaya — Residents of the Kolmalaya village, located near the Kalma camp in South Darfur, are denouncing plans by the state's government to evacuate them and transform the area into an industrial zone.

The sheikh of the community, Musa Abdullah Teeyrab, told Radio Dabanga last week that South Darfur authorities have assessed the farmlands in order to divide them into smaller properties which would be sold to investors.

"This is an example of the policies of the National Congress Party (NCP): to push people out of their lands and bring new residents to the area", the sheikh declared.

Teeyrab rejects the decision by the NCP and asserts the land belongs to the current villagers.

Residents and the sheikh appealed to the UN to revert the situation, adding that several people from Kolmalaya are being forced to move to the Kalma camp for displaced.

At the same time, Kalma's Sheikh Ali Abdelrahman al-Taher urged South Darfur authorities not to confiscate the farmlands, during an interview with Radio Dabanga.

He also urged the UN to step in and support the civilians.