Khartoum, Sudan - The UN on Sunday expressed deep concern over the current situation in the Blue Nile State region of South-eastern Sudan, where former rebels and government forces have clashed for the third day running.

“The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr Georg Charpentier, is deeply concerned about the recent outbreak of fighting in Blue Nile State between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, which has already caused thousands of people to flee their homes.” The UN office in Sudan said in a statement issued on Sunday, three days after the outbreak of the fighting.

The fighting, which started in the state capital, Damazin, on the evening of 1 September, has spread to other parts of the state and thousands of people are reported to have fled their homes.

There has been little information about the situation, with each side accusing the other of initiating the fighting.

The UN however said that in Kurmuk, in the southern part of the state, some 16,000 people are reported to have fled across the border into neighboring Ethiopia since the fighting began.

It said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ethiopia is currently assessing the needs of those who crossed the border.

The statement quoted Mr. Charpentier as calling on both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North to end the fighting immediately and to seek to resolve any disputes through peaceful means, to prevent more loss of life and to enable displaced people to return to their homes.

He also called on both sides to allow humanitarian staff to assess the needs of civilians affected by the fighting as soon as it is safe to do so, so they can assist in addressing any urgent needs.

On Saturday, the government in Khartoum accused the Republic of South Sudan of being directly involved in the developments in the Blue Nile, which is seven-hour drive South-east of the nation's capital Khartoum.

The Blue Nile, an evergreen region bordering Ethiopia, is one of three areas known as the marginalized zones, according  to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the 21-year war in Sudan and which led to the creation of the new state of South Sudan.

Meanwhile, Sudanese army spokesperson Col. Sawarmi Khalid has told the local press that the army was in full control of the situation there, and that two soldiers had been killed in the fighting.

Pana 05/09/2011