SHRO condemns attacks in North Darfur, urges government to respect UN staff

September 20, 2008 — The Sudan Human Rights Organization – Cairo is deeply concerned over military attacks recently launched by the government troops and militias on a number of villages in North Darfur: The government forces attacked al-Tawila village twice between August 6 and 8, leaving behind scores of murdered citizens and other serious casualties. In the meantime, the army air force launched harsher attacks on the villages of Teeri, al-‘Ardibat, a-Ushara, Dobo, Ardeem, Um-Mihairik, Mangeeria, Katour, Deesa, and Beer Mazza.

The Organization condemns in the strongest terms possible the attack launched on August 25th by the security and police forces on the Kalma camp east of Niyala, of which tens of the displaced people were massacred, including children, women, and elderly citizens. The transgressing forces placed Kalma and the surrounding camps under siege, as a part of State plans to force the displaced citizens to abandon the camps. These unlawful acts constituted gross violation of the international humanitarian law to which Sudan is obligated as a State Party, especially Article 3 of the Geneva Protocols.

SHRO-Cairo is gravely concerned for the continuous escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the dehumanizing policies of the Government of Sudan against the powerless women, children, and elderly citizens in the camps. To improve this situation, we strongly urge the government to cooperate closely with all UN staff in the country, especially the UN Special Rapporteur Sima Samar.

We call on the government and all warring groups to honour the cease fire most recently arranged in the holy month of Ramadan.

We call on the UNAMID to play an active role in the protection and safety of the displaced people, as a part of its mandate. In this regard, the governmen should facilitate all UN activities.

We urge all parties to expedite the effort to bring about a political settlement for the crisis in Darfur. The regional and international parties are strongly urged to exert the strongest pressure possible on the warring groups to end the ongoing war by an All-Sudanese conference under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union.