30 displaced were shot dead by the Sudanese troops in Kalma – UNAMID

August 27, 2008 (EL FASHER) – Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission announced today that 30 people were shot dead by the Sudanese forces two days ago during their attempt to forcibly enter Kalma camp.

On Monday August 25, Sudanese troops clashed with the displaced population inside one of the largest IDPs camp in the troubled Darfur. The armed forces killed dozens of people.

The UNAMID condemned the excessive and disproportionate use of force against civilians; it also said this attack came “in contravention of the Darfur Peace Agreement and International Humanitarian Law.”

The joint peacekeeping mission said today it had obtained concrete evidence of the death of a total of 31 IDPs during last Monday attack. “30 of the victims were killed by gunshots while a woman fell to her death in a ditch, while attempting to flee the shooting,” noticed a statement issued by the UNAMID today.

Among the killed displaced there were “7 children, 10 women, and 13 men, aged 11 to 60” the hybrid mission said.

The publication of these figures comes as result of investigations conducted by an assessment team sent to Kalma today to further gather information of what happened at the camp. The team, composed of military and humanitarian personnel, presented their condolences to the affected families.

Further, following a request for a meeting with the investigation mission presented by the local chiefs in the camp, Rodolphe Adada, the head of the hybrid mission directed that a high-level delegation engages today in a series of meetings with the IDPs.

“Another UNAMID assessment mission to the camp has been scheduled to rebuild confidence among the IDPs of Kalma.”

The Sudanese authorities justified the raid on Kalma camp by claiming to have received reliable intel about weapons smuggled recently into the camp which is at a strategic position because of its proximity to the Nyala airport and railways.

However camp leaders who spoke to Sudan Tribune firmly denied the presence of any weapons. They accuse Khartoum of planning to dismantle the largest IDPs camp in Darfur.

(ST)