UNAMID says that armed men looted WFP and GOAL’s compounds in N Darfur

02/08/2012 23:55

Eye witnesses from Kutum, North Darfur, told radio Dabanga that pro-government militias stormed the Al Gusr, Al Dababeen and Al Salam areas and the entrance of a large market. They added that the pro-government militias attacked humanitarian organizations’ compounds in Kutum town. Sources say these events are the result of the assassination of Al Waha locality’s governor, Abdel Rahman Mohammed Essa and his driver. They were shot dead during daylight in a Kutum market by unidentified gunmen. Eye witnesses report that schools, public institutions and shops are closed for the second consecutive day. Civilians do not dare leaving their houses as they fear for their lives due to the intense shootings. Residents reported that the police left the area but that there is wide deployment of the army, security forces and reservation forces. Despite that, they added, the pro-government militia looted the Kutum market. Residents said they are facing a crisis due to the difficulty to obtain food, water and medicines. Shops, water tanks and grain mills are not running and citizens fear getting killed if they leave their homes. UNAMID Christopher Cycmanick, UNAMID’s spokesperson, confirmed to Radio Dabanga that armed men looted the compounds of the World Food Program (WFP) and of GOAL in Kutum town. He is not sure if it was the same armed group that looted both compounds. In an interview to Radio Dabanga Cycmanick said that this is a complicated situation, in which different groups are involved. He is not able to confirm whether the current events are a revenge for the killing of Al Waha locality’s governor. UNAMID is aware that civilians are demanding its protection and there are patrols on the ground. UNAMID is concerned about the situation and encourages dialogue, affirming that a political solution must be found to this problem, not a military one. Cycmanick said UNAMID is in contact with different groups, such as the government and IDPs, and that they hope a solution to this problem will be reached in the next 12 hours. There is no confirmation so far regarding casualties and fatalities related to this event.

Eye witnesses from Kutum, North Darfur, told radio Dabanga that pro-government militias stormed the Al Gusr, Al Dababeen and Al Salam areas and the entrance of a large market. They added that the pro-government militias attacked humanitarian organizations’ compounds in Kutum town.

Sources say these events are the result of the assassination of Al Waha locality’s governor, Abdel Rahman Mohammed Essa and his driver. They were shot dead during daylight in a Kutum market by unidentified gunmen. Eye witnesses report that schools, public institutions and shops are closed for the second consecutive day. Civilians do not dare leaving their houses as they fear for their lives due to the intense shootings.

Residents reported that the police left the area but that there is wide deployment of the army, security forces and reservation forces. Despite that, they added, the pro-government militia looted the Kutum market. Residents said they are facing a crisis due to the difficulty to obtain food, water and medicines. Shops, water tanks and grain mills are not running and citizens fear getting killed if they leave their homes.

UNAMID

Christopher Cycmanick, UNAMID’s spokesperson, confirmed to Radio Dabanga that armed men looted the compounds of the World Food Program (WFP) and of GOAL in Kutum town. He is not sure if it was the same armed group that looted both compounds.

In an interview to Radio Dabanga Cycmanick said that this is a complicated situation, in which different groups are involved. He is not able to confirm whether the current events are a revenge for the killing of Al Waha locality’s governor. UNAMID is aware that civilians are demanding its protection and there are patrols on the ground.

UNAMID is concerned about the situation and encourages dialogue, affirming that a political solution must be found to this problem, not a military one. Cycmanick said UNAMID is in contact with different groups, such as the government and IDPs, and that they hope a solution to this problem will be reached in the next 12 hours. There is no confirmation so far regarding casualties and fatalities related to this event.