{"id":20048564,"date":"2023-08-08T15:07:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T13:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20048564"},"modified":"2023-10-09T10:57:19","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T08:57:19","slug":"darfurs-destroyed-villages-recall-scorched-earth-campaigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/darfurs-destroyed-villages-recall-scorched-earth-campaigns","title":{"rendered":"Images of destroyed Darfur villages evoke ‘scorched earth’ campaigns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported \u201cmassive fire destruction in the town of Sirba\u201d in West Darfur in late July this year, shown in satellite data collected by the advocacy organisation that investigates and reports human rights abuses across the world.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, published on August 4, said that Sirba \u201cis the seventh village or town that has been nearly destroyed or burned completely to the ground in West Darfur since April,\u201d including Habila, Misterei, Murnei, and Megmari.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who managed to flee Sirba in West Darfur told Radio Dabanga of ethnic cleansing and report tragic details of the attacks<\/a> by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab gunmen on the town, which fell into RSF hands at the end of last month. Murnei has reportedly been experiencing similar violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 31, Radio Dabanga reported that legal rights activist Mohamed Teirab estimated the initial death toll<\/a> at 460 people. Thousands have been wounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zoomed-in infrared satellite image taken on July 29 shows residential areas of Sirba, West Darfur, affected by burning. On infrared images, the vegetation appears in red and the burned areas in black. (Source: Planet Labs PBC)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amnesty International’s 56-page report, published on August 3, documents mass civilian casualties \u201cin both deliberate and indiscriminate attacks by the warring parties.\u201d The report also details \u201csexual violence against women and girls, targeted attacks on civilian objects such as hospitals and churches, and extensive looting.\u201d Some women were held in conditions amounting to sexual slavery in the capital Khartoum and the western region of Darfur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cspiralling violence\u201d in Darfur \u201cis raising the spectre of the scorched earth<\/a> campaign of previous decades, at times involving some of the same actors,\u201d said Agn\u00e8s Callamard, Amnesty International\u2019s Secretary General. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report’s co-author, Donatella Rovera, told the Associated Press that \u201csexual violence has been a defining element of this conflict from the start. Civilians don’t have any good options. It’s hard for them to leave. It’s very dangerous for them. Almost all rape cases have been blamed on the RSF and allied Western militias.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the report, the army confirmed that it had set up a unit to try to minimize harm to civilians, while the RSF denied allegations of sexual violence as well as violence in West Darfur, and that it did not target the Masalit African community in the area. Rather, Masalit gunmen allegedly targeted Arabs suspected of siding with the militias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe world should not stand by as town after town in West Darfur is burned to the ground, sending tens of thousands of civilians fleeing for their lives,\u201d said Tirana Hassan<\/a>, executive director at HRW. \u201cThe United States government needs to put words into action and ensure that the UN Security Council finally acts to protect civilians and to hold those responsible for the atrocities to account.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a media interview: “The UN Security Council has a responsibility to deal with peace and security around the world, so what happens in Sudan must be on the agenda. Council members should begin by condemning those who do not respect the current arms embargo on Darfur and applying targeted sanctions against those responsible for ongoing violations,\u201d including sexual violence and blocking humanitarian access. The ambassador also mentioned the need to support ongoing investigations of the International Criminal Court<\/a> in Darfur. <\/p>\n