Air sorties ‘traumatising Darfur’s East Jebel Marra’: witnesses

22/08/2013 23:02

Residents of Darfur’s East Jebel Marra are reportedly living in continuous fear of air raids. They allege that the area is constantly patrolled by ‘Sudanese Air Force’ jets and helicopters, severely disrupting their daily lives. Citizens have called on the UN and the international community to intervene and impose a no-fly zone in Darfur. They say that in addition to low-flying helicopters and MiG jets, high-flying Antonov aircraft “threaten aerial bombardment at any moment”. “For three consecutive days from Tuesday to Thursdays constant sorties have forced many citizens to spend their days taking cover in the wood or the valleys. The noise has completely traumatised the children, and some pregnant women have miscarried,” a source said. The affected areas include Abu Hamra, Affara, Adola and North Al Malam. Residents complain that they are having difficulty going about their daily lives, obtaining food and water, or tending their farms and livestock. File photo: Children in East Jebel Marra, Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: 70,000 ‘facing extreme difficulty’ in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra: displaced (20 August 2013)‘At least four dead, entire village destroyed in Darfur air raids’: witnesses (18 August 2013)

Residents of Darfur’s East Jebel Marra are reportedly living in continuous fear of air raids. They allege that the area is constantly patrolled by ‘Sudanese Air Force’ jets and helicopters, severely disrupting their daily lives.

Citizens have called on the UN and the international community to intervene and impose a no-fly zone in Darfur. They say that in addition to low-flying helicopters and MiG jets, high-flying Antonov aircraft “threaten aerial bombardment at any moment”.

“For three consecutive days from Tuesday to Thursdays constant sorties have forced many citizens to spend their days taking cover in the wood or the valleys. The noise has completely traumatised the children, and some pregnant women have miscarried,” a source said.

The affected areas include Abu Hamra, Affara, Adola and North Al Malam. Residents complain that they are having difficulty going about their daily lives, obtaining food and water, or tending their farms and livestock.

File photo: Children in East Jebel Marra, Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Related:

70,000 ‘facing extreme difficulty’ in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra: displaced (20 August 2013)

‘At least four dead, entire village destroyed in Darfur air raids’: witnesses (18 August 2013)