Troika denounces Sudanese army’s bombing of civilians in South Kordofan
May 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Members of Sudan’s Troika have condemned the Sudanese government’s aerial bombardment of civilians in Kauda and Heiban area of South Kordofan including the bombing of St. Vincent Elementary School on 25 May.
The movement pointed that it filed a complaint to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui demanding an official investigation on the Heiban incident.
Also, SPLM-N has earlier said it is making contacts with the French Bar Association to file charges against the Sudanese government on behalf of the victims’ families.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, the Troika countries, including the Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States held the Sudanese government responsible for protecting all its citizens, saying they were appalled by its aerial bombardment of civilians in Kauda and Heiban.
“We urge all parties to end the violence and allow immediate humanitarian access to those in need. We believe that the Roadmap presented by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel represents the way forward” read the statement
In written statements extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, SPLM-N secretary general Yasser Arman condemned the indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian areas in South Kordofan and warned that the dropped bombs also “hit Sudan’s unity and lead to tear the national fabric”.
The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011 and the armed movements in Darfur since 2003.
SPLM-N Spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, Saturday reported fresh clashes with the Sudanese army in Alzraq area, adding that a Sudanese Antonov plane bombed Uru area southeast of Heiban with 10 incendiary barrel bombs but there was no casualties among civilians in the area.
Also, Lodi said that a Sudanese military Antonov on 26 May dropped 12 barrel bombs on Um Serdiba area in Um Dorain County with killing 12 cows.
He further said that in a separate air strike on 24 May an Antonov bombed Shawry area in Heiban County with six barrel bombs causing fear and panic among the civilians.
Meanwhile, the Troika countries expressed deep concern over the government’s de facto expulsion of the Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan Ivo Freijsen last week.
The statement stressed that the government’s move contributes to the increasingly difficult environment to address humanitarian needs in Sudan particularly as the humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 5.4 million people in need of assistance.
“We fully support OCHA’s mandate in Sudan and call on the government to review this latest decision, and lift restrictions on the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese affected by crisis and conflict” read the statement
Last week, the Sudanese government declined to renew a stay permit for Freijsen but denied to describe the move as de facto expulsion saying the latter was appointed for an interim period and should be replaced by a permanent official.
A Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity that Freijsen continued to “issue subjective and inaccurate reports about the humanitarian situation in Sudan” besides his repeated allegations that the government doesn’t allow access to the needy population.
He added that Freijsen issued undocumented reports on government bombing of civilians in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Jebel Marra besides accusations on restrictions imposed by the Khartoum government on humanitarian workers.
(ST)