Nine villages attacked by Sudan’s militias, air force in North Darfur

31/12/2014 21:42

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began their offensive in North Darfur’s Tawila locality, popularly known as East Jebel Marra, this morning. An Antonov of the Sudan Air Force bombarded the area from 8 am until 12 am. Two children were killed.
Several villagers related to Radio Dabanga from their refuge in the mountains, how a large group of RSF militia troops moved from Wadi Marra at about 10 am this morning towards the villages of Sharafa, Um Beji, Dolma, Diwa, Koto, Daly, and Nemra.
“They assaulted and beat those who had not fled already with batons and whips, and pillaged the villages. They took everything with them, even beds, and also the poultry,” one of them said.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began their offensive in North Darfur’s Tawila locality, popularly known as East Jebel Marra, this morning. An Antonov of the Sudan Air Force bombarded the area from 8 am until 12 am. Two children were killed.

Several villagers related to Radio Dabanga from their refuge in the mountains how a large group of RSF militia troops moved from Wadi Marra at about 10 am this morning towards the villages of Sharafa, Um Beji, Dolma, Diwa, Koto, Daly, and Nemra.

“They assaulted and beat those who had not already fled with batons and whips, and pillaged the villages. They took everything with them, including our beds, and even the poultry,” one of them said.

Others reported that an Antonov dropped 17 bombs in the vicinity of Tokomari and Hillet Wad Kireikeri villages, near Tabit, and in the area of Mashrou Abu Zeid.

“Hamoudi Mahmoud Adam (5) and Adam Yagoub (4) were fatally hit. Wells and other water resources were destroyed, and many cows were killed.”

“We urgently request the UN Security Council and the international community to intervene, and protect the people in East Jebel Marra.”

The villagers, hiding in the nearby mountains and valleys, said that the destruction of the wells, “by the militia troops as well”, is aggravating their situation.

“We urgently request the UN Security Council and the international community to intervene, protect the people in East Jebel Marra, and provide relief.”

Omda Ahmed Ateem, the coordinator of the North Darfur camps, strongly condemned the “attacks on civilians in East Jebel Marra”. He expressed his fear that the Rapid Support Forces, since a few days stationed in the areas around Kutum and Kabkabiya, will start their offensive soon too.

Ateem appealed through Radio Dabanga to Unamid to provide protection to the people against the frequent attacks by government militias.

“If the peacekeepers came to Darfur to protect the civilians, they should do their part. If they came to collect dollars, we will lose our lives.”

He also urged the UN Security Council to “implement the resolutions on Darfur, in particularly the ones on protection of civilians, and to intervene so that relief organisations are able to provide humanitarian aid”.