Attack and rape of 17 women outside Kalma IDP camp

On 24 July 2006, approximately 25 armed militias, some in army uniform attacked twenty women outside Kalma internally displaced camp in Nyala, Southern Darfur. The women were attacked whilst they were collecting firewood. The women had gone outside the camp as a collective in the false belief that they would be safe from attack as a group.

During the attack, the militias beat the women with the butt of their guns and flogged them before raping seventeen of the women. The details of the women raped are as follows, names withheld:

19 yrs, Fur tribe

19 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

20 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 4

22 yrs, Fur tribe

22 yrs, Fur tribe

22 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

23 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

24 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

29 yrs, Fur tribe

30 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

31 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

32 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

32 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

32 yrs, Fur, lives at sector 5

37 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

40 yrs, Fur tribe, lives at sector 5

42 yrs, Fur tribe

The incident has been reported to AMIS in Kalma camp. SOAT’s network of lawyers in Nyala is providing legal assistance to the girls.

Background

There has been steady gathering of armed militias, reportedly the Janjaweed in the surrounding areas of Kalma camp. These militias besides attacking humanitarian workers undertake nightly incursions into the camp for purposes of looting. The militias allege that rather than raiding the camp, they are responding to alleged theft of their cows and horses by IDPs from Kalma camp.

On 29 June 2006, in the early morning, unknown men armed with JM3 machine guns and Kalashnikovs attacked Kalma internally displaced camp in Nyala killing one person and injuring two others. The details of the victims are follows: Haroun Salmani, (50 yrs), Fur tribe, employed as a watchman for Care International Water Pump in Sector 7, attacked at 02:00am. Mr. Salmani was shot whilst he was sleeping, he died instantly; Adam Musa Adam, (65 yrs), Fur tribe, resident at Sector 7, attacked at 01:00am The armed men stole Mr. Adam’s bicycle and shot him in left foot. Following the gunshot, IDPs in sector 7 found three empty shells and two full cartridges which have been handed over to AMIS. Mr. Adam is currently receiving medical treatment at Nyala hospital; Ramadan Abdel Karmia Mohd, (22 yrs), Fur tribe, resident at Sector 7, attacked at 02:00am. Mr. Mohd was shot in his left shoulder and received injuries to his left hand. Mr. Mohd is currently receiving medical treatment at Nyala hospital.

SOAT strongly condemns the continuing sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur perpetrated by armed militias with impunity.� SOAT is particularly concern that women and girls continue to venture outside IDP camps to undertake tasks including fetching firewood to sell to subsides their income or to cook with despite the presence of AMIS.

SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to immediately implement its obligations as agreed in the DPA. The continued targeting of women and the IDP population at night by armed groups undermines one of fundamental principles of the DPA namely “To ensure that civilians are not subjected to violence, intimidation, threats” (Article 23(217)).

SOAT recalls article 27(315) of the DPA which requires the GoS to “restrict all Janjaweed/armed militia and PDF to their headquarters, garrisons, cantonment sites or communities and take other steps to contain, reduce and ultimately eliminate the threat posed by such forces”, furthermore article 27 (317) states that “GoS, with support from AMIS, shall take all other steps required to completely eliminate the threat posed by Janjaweed/armed militia to the civilian population…” and article 337, “humanitarian organisations and humanitarian supply routes” respectively.

� Agree to the rapid deployment of UN Peacekeepers with a chapter 7 mandate �to Darfur as stipulated in resolution 1679;

� Immediately provide both political and financial support to AMIS to ensure the mission is capable and able to effectively fulfil the protection role of its mandate in the transitional period before the UN takeover through the provision of:

i. Satisfactory protection provisions including to resume the provision of armed escort for women and girls venturing outside IDP camps,

ii. Fulfil its functions as stipulated in the DPA particularly verifying and monitoring the disarmament of the Janjaweed militias and other militias;

iii. Continue to place pressure on the various armed groups to sign the DPA and the Declaration of Commitment to the DPA to sign the peace agreement.

SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to:

– Investigate the attack and rape of the women and ensure that the perpetrators are brought before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;
– Agree to the rapid deployment of UN Peacekeepers with a chapter 7 mandate �to Darfur as stipulated in resolution 1679;
– Embark on the immediate disarmament of Janjaweed militias and all armed militias operating in Darfur particularly outside known IDP Camps;

SOAT urges AMIS, AU Peace and Security Council, the UN and the wider international community to:

– Resume the provision of armed escort of women and girls venturing outside IDP Camps;
– Support AMIS to investigate the continual attacks on IDPs around IDP camps in Darfur;
– Continue to provide adequate political and financial support to AMIS to ensure the mission is capable and able to effectively fulfil the protection role of its mandate in the transitional period before the UN takeover through the provision of:
– Continue to place pressure on the various armed groups to sign the DPA and the Declaration of Commitment to the DPA to sign the peace agreement.

– SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

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