Aid agency concerned over killing of 2 children in Blue Nile

September 5, 2022 (AD DAMAZIN) – A UK-based humanitarian agency said it is deeply saddened and alarmed by reports of renewed conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile region, where two children are among at least 23 people who have reportedly died in the past four days.

Save the Children, in a statement, said 44 people, including 10 children were injured, and thousands displaced, with six schools it aide used to shelter those who fled the violence.

“We urge all parties to exert all efforts to protect civilians from violence, especially the most vulnerable families and children, and to ensure that displaced communities are not forced to return to areas where they do not feel safe,” said Arshad Malik, Country Director of Save the Children Sudan.

“All efforts should be made to address the root causes of conflict in order to prevent such unrest in the future,” he added.

In July, dozens of people were killed and over 30,000 displaced as a result of fighting between Hausa and Berta in the Blue Nile region, forcing authorities to impose a curfew in a bid to reduce the bloody violence.

The clashes sparked in the Gaissan, Roseiris, and Wad Al-Mahi localities, following the murder of a person during an argument between two people from the two tribal groups.

The violence began as the state-owned Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) began returning hundreds of families to homes abandoned during the bloody conflict in July.

(ST)