Bombing runs continue around Darfur town for second week

February 3, 2009 (NYALA) – Sudanese warplanes and aircraft conducted air assaults around Muhageria town in South Darfur this morning, reported the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The bombing has gone on for weeks since the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement seized the town on January 15. Peacekeepers reported “civilians are still gathered outside the UNAMID camp seeking refuge.” Civilians have come and gone from the peacekeepers’ base during different parts of the siege, numbering from 1,500 to 5,000.

Sudan government leaders have vowed to retake the town by force, today rejecting a rebel offer to withdraw provided that the area is turned into a demilitarized zone monitored by the peacekeepers, who have 190 soldiers in the town.

While reports suggest that dozens have been killed in the bombing runs, mostly civilians, the extent of the air assaults is not yet known because today a UNAMID assessment team was blocked from visiting Muhageria by forces from Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), said a peacekeeping spokesperson.

In its press briefing today, the peacekeeping mission stressed that UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon yesterday had reminded the international community to honour its commitment to provide “very much needed military aviation assets.”

No country has yet fulfilled UNAMID’s request for 18 utility helicopters and six tactical helicopters, though for years some countries have made vague commitments.

Offensive air operations in Darfur are banned by UN Security Council resolutions.
(ST)