UNAMID protect civilians and aid workers after South Darfur clashes

January 15, 23008 (ELFASHIR) — Darfur hybrid peace keeping mission protected aid workers in southern Darfur and offered medical care to the civilians wounded following fighting between the former rebels and another rebel movement.

The location of Muhageria, a stronghold of former rebel Sudan liberation Movement led byMinni Minawi, witnessed fierce fighting today between the SLA-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement rebels.

JEM said inflected heavy casualties on Minawi troops but the Senior Presidential Assistant accused JEM of burning the town saying they attacked his troops and killed a large number of civilians.

“The UNAMID is providing medical care to injured civilians and offering shelter to aid workers after members of two rebel groups opened fire on each other in a South Darfur town today.”

The local population began gathering around the UNAMID base for protection, it said.

The hybrid peacekeeping mission established a makeshift hospital at its base in Muhageria to treat the IDPs wounded amid the fighting between SLM-Minawi and JEM.

The UNAMID also helped evacuate staff from two NGOs, Médecins Sans Frontières and Solidarités, who are working in the region.

The two warring parties accuse each other of attacking the positions of the other. Also Minawi says Muhageria belongs to his group because they control it since 2004, but JEM says they

The peacekeeping mission further said it is investigating and monitoring the situation in Muhageria. It also added that the fighting had stopped.

(ST)