Darfur students blame Sudan militias for fire at Khartoum University

A large fire broke out at the Khartoum University leaving several students with burn injuries, including one in coma. The Darfur Student Association has accused militias of setting the dormitories ablaze as they are mostly resided by people from Darfur or from the Nuba Mountains. The flames at the Zahra compound began on Tuesday while students were in class, the association said. Possessions of several undergraduates were destroyed, “especially those of Darfurians”.Hafisa, one of the victims, said she jumped from the third floor to escape the fire and ended up breaking his spine and his hip. Student Khadija is reportedly in coma as a result of burn wounds.The association further stated that security services are preventing the media and lawyers from accessing the burned compound.Abdel Razek Mustapha Amin, secretary of National Student Fund affiliated to the government, said losses due to the fire amounted to about 100 million Sudanese pounds ($22.3 million).Darfur students are asking for the protection of the UN and of human rights organizations.File photo: Dormitory of the Khartoum University burned after attacks on Friday, 1 February 2013 (sudaneseonline.com)See also: Security forces burn ‘246 beds’ at Khartoum university, Sudan (3 February 2013)