Sudan’s police authorities on Tuesday burnt down houses of South Sudanese refugees in Wed Al-Bashir area in the capital’s twin city of Omdurman, as part of government policy to crackdown on illegal structures around the city.

A traditional leader, who preferred anonymity for security reasons, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that they were surprised to see a heavy deployment of police forces surrounding Juba Refugee Camp which hosts more than 150 South Sudanese families.

He further said the police burnt down some houses with all property inside to ashes rendering the affected families homeless. The chief pointed out that the families are facing a difficult humanitarian situation in the camps due to the ongoing rains.

Similar operations have also been carried out by police officers at Al-Jiref East in Eastern Nile Locality.