Warplane causes fear over Nyala; ban on relief flights enters 12th day

A MiG warplane flying in the sky above the city of Nyala for more than an hour yesterday caused fear among the people and disturbance due to the noise of the MiG, which was flying at low altitude and at high speed. The sound of the airplane caused residents and children to take to the streets, and some denounced the flights over Nyala as illegal and the cause of panic and fear among citizens. In another development, Sudanese authorities have restricted UN flights in South Darfur since 31 May. The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur said that the authorities cited security risks and added that the measure continues to limit humanitarian access in the region. For over a week the UN World Food Programme has been unable to reach “deep field locations” in South Darfur. Reuters news agency reported that the flight ban left some aid workers stranded in remote locations of the state.

A MiG warplane flying in the sky above the city of Nyala for more than an hour yesterday caused fear among the people and disturbance due to the noise of the MiG, which was flying at low altitude and at high speed. The sound of the airplane caused residents and children to take to the streets, and some denounced the flights over Nyala as illegal and the cause of panic and fear among citizens. In another development, Sudanese authorities have restricted UN flights in South Darfur since 31 May. The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur said that the authorities cited security risks and added that the measure continues to limit humanitarian access in the region. For over a week the UN World Food Programme has been unable to reach “deep field locations” in South Darfur. Reuters news agency reported that the flight ban left some aid workers stranded in remote locations of the state.