Darfur Relief Centre calls for ‘thorough review of Unamid’

Massive violations of international humanitarian law have been committed during the attacks of the Rapid Support Forces on villages located southeast of South Darfur’s capital of Nyala on Thursday and Friday. The Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre (DRDC) called for an independent investigation of “these crimes” and a thorough review of the role of the United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (Unamid) in order to protect civilians in Darfur in a more effective manner. The Geneva-based DRDC expressed its serious concerns about the attacks and the continued large-scale targeting of civilians in Darfur in a press statement issued on Monday. It strongly condemned “the government’s military approach to resolving armed conflicts in Sudan and its use of militiamen and paramilitary troops for security purposes”. “On Thursday, 27 February, and Friday, 28 February 2014, the Sudanese army and Janjaweed militiamen launched a destructive military operation against the civilian population in southeast Nyala, capital of South Darfur State,” the DRDC state. “Heavy military equipment, including military jets and artillery were reportedly used during this operation. The attackers burned-down more than 50 villages, killed hundreds of civilians and forcibly displaced between 5,000 and 15,000 people. About 5,000 victims of this attack managed to reach internally displaced persons camps in the area, such as Kalma camp near Nyala and El Salam camp in Bielel locality, while more than 10,000 civilians are currently living in the wilderness, as they were prevented by the militiamen from reaching urban areas and displaced settlements. The areas that were affected by this attack are Hijer (Tunjo), Um Gunja, Sani Deleiba, Tukumari, Himeida, Barka Tuli, Afona, and many other villages.” ‘Massive violations’“Massive violations of international humanitarian law were committed during this attack,” the DRDC noted. “The exact numbers of people that lost their lives and those that are missing are not yet known because of the large-scale nature of the attack and the absence of independent organisations or UN agencies in the area. At least 33 people were killed in Hijer Tunjo village on 27 February 2014. The militiamen reportedly raped an unknown number of women and abducted about 20 young women and girls in addition to nine school-age children in Hijer Tunjo alone. The abduction of the women and children could be intended for sexual enslavement and forced labour. The militiamen burned houses and looted all the belongings and cattle owned by the local people.” Multiple sources affirmed to DRDC that about 4,000 Janjaweed militiamen, under the command of Ahmed Hamdan, known as “Hemeti”, and the supervision of Sudanese army General Abbas Abdel Aziz, are responsible for the attacks. “These militiamen recently received intensive military training in Khartoum and were drafted by the government into the fighting against the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) in South Kordofan in October 2013. They withdrew from South Kordofan in late 2013, and were stationed in North Kordofan until mid-January 2014 where they committed a series of crimes, including killings, rape, robberies and multiple abuses against civilians in the environs of El Obeid.”The presence of the Janjaweed militiamen in North Kordofan was met by fierce opposition from the local people and generated a nationwide outcry from Sudanese political parties and opinion makers, which forced the government to order them to leave the area. However, the redeployment of the militiamen into Darfur was met by indifference from political forces in Sudan.” ‘Utterly disappointed’DRDC is “utterly disappointed” that the African Union and Unamid have not been able to prevent this attack or to protect civilians in the area. It called for an independent investigation of these crimes and for the International Criminal Court to be seized of the matter.“We further call on the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to protect civilians in Darfur and to thoroughly review the role of Unamid in order to enable it to carry on its mission and protect civilians in Darfur in a more effective manner.” On 3 March, Unamid issued a press statement in which it deplored the denial of access to the affected areas by the authorities on several occasions. The peacekeeping mission called upon the authorities to allow the peacekeepers’ mission “unhindered and immediate access to these areas, so that it can carry out its core activity for the protection of civilians as mandated by the African Union and the United Nations, and as consented to by the Government of Sudan”. File photo: A burning house in a South Darfur village attacked by Rapid Support Forces (DRDC) Related: Rapid Support Forces welcomed in South Darfur’s capital; Governor accuses rebels of attacks (4 March 2014) Rebels condemn militia attacks on South Darfur villages (3 March 2014) Escalating violence: Unamid calls for unhindered access in South Darfur (3 March 2014) 18,000 newly displaced arrive at South Darfur camps; El Salam camp surrounded by militia forces (3 March 2014) Thousands displaced in attack on more than 35 villages in South Darfur (28 February 2014)