Head of ceasefire body slams Darfur civilian bombing
May 5, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) said unacceptable the aerial attacks carried out by the Sudanese army killing about 14 civilians in North Darfur state last week.
Last Friday, An Antonov of the Sudanese army killed 11 civilians in Shegeg Karo area in North Darfur state and wounded 4 child and 2 women, the attack occurred on the market day. The army bomber also killed three brothers in Ain Bassir area, east of Jebel Midoub.
Agwai said these bombings of villages, markets and populated areas “are unacceptable acts against civilians, compounding the extent of displacement, insecurity and untold human suffering.”
UNAMID helicopters and medical evacuation teams are mobilized to evacuate casualties of the most recent attacks, he further said.
He also said the aerial strikes represent an evidence of total lack of commitment by Sudanese government and former rebel groups to the peace process and the signed ceasefire agreement.
After long time of timid reactions to the attacks carried out by the Sudanese army in Darfur, the peacekeeping mission multiplies communiqués of condemnation for Sudanese army bombardments of civilian targets in Darfur.
Darfur rebel groups and the IDPs criticised last weeks the silence of the UNAMID and its inaction over Sudanese army and militias attacks against the civilians.
The head of the ceasefire commission urged “all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and refrain from engaging in armed combat in populated areas.”
He added that the joint mission will do everything in its capacity to speed up the deployment of the 26000 peacekeeping troops to fulfil their mandate with regard to the protection of civilians in the troubled region.
(ST)