EU, UN rights body condemn civilian killing in Kalma camp
August 29, 2008 (PARIS) – The European Union and UN rights body Friday condemned the attack by the Sudanese forces against displaced people in Kalma camp last Monday where killed more than 30 IDPs, including seven children.
Yvon Edoumou, spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned Sudan’s “disproportionate and excessive” use of force against the civilians in the largest IPDs camp near Nyala the capital of south Darfur.
Thirty-one people were killed, and one woman died after falling into a ditch whilst trying to flee the shooting, he said.
In total seven children, 11 women and 13 men were killed in the attack which also left 54 people wounded, he added.
Sudanese authorities describe the Kalma camp, home to around 90,000 people as a den of outlaws and armed robbers hoarding weapons, ammunition, explosives, narcotics and stolen goods.
The European Union also condemned today the intervention by Sudanese forces at the Kalma displaced persons camp in South Darfur on August 25.
The EU urged the Sudanese government to probe this deadly intervention, “respect international humanitarian law and not interfere with UNAMID action.”
It further requested that the injured be evacuated as soon as possible.
The United Nations says that up to 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million fled their homes since the conflict erupted in February 2003. Sudan says 10,000 have been killed.
(ST)