Fleeing villagers assaulted, robbed in Kutum, North Darfur

Elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) assaulted and robbed newly displaced in Kutum locality, North Darfur, on Sunday. A baby on the back of his mother was killed, others were wounded. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a resident of Sany Haya reported that “elements of the Rapid Support militias” in a number of vehicles attacked a group of citizens between Ed El Garad and Sani Haya, on Sunday. “They had fled the RSF attacks on their villages in the area northeast of Kutum, and were on their way to Mellit town.” The militiamen severely beat the villagers with rifle buds which led to the injury of a number of them, and to the death of a four-month-old boy named Mu’awya Adam Hamid who was carried on the back of his mother. “They robbed the displaced of everything they had managed to take with them, and took a man called Hamid Zakaria with them to an unknown destination.” The witness demanded from the authorities, the UN, human rights and humanitarian organisations to “intervene, and protect the fleeing citizens, and bring those involved in such crimes to justice”. Clothes and shoes In the same area, RSF militiamen intercepted a group of about 1,500 citizens fleeing from Bowa and Ed El Garad, northeast of Kutum town, on their way to Mellit town, the witness said. “They beat and whipped them before robbing them of all their money, property, and livestock. They even stripped them of their clothes and their shoes.” The witness added that these escapees, most of whom are women, children, and elderly, are at risk of dying of thirst and starvation, especially because the militiamen had robbed them of their food, and their donkey and horse-carts. He demanded from the local authorities, the humanitarian organisations, and Unamid to “intervene to rescue those victims”. The RSF, being regular troops belonging to the operations body of the National Intelligence and Security Services, are commanded by Maj. Gen. Abbas Abdel Aziz. The troops’ movements and deployment in military operations are arranged in coordination with the General Command of the Sudanese army. “They are in Darfur to fight the armed opposition movements,” according to Abdel Aziz. File photo: Newly displaced near the Unamid team site in Korma, North Darfur, 25 March 2014 (Owies Elfaki/Unamid) Related: Thousands of North Darfur villagers flee to areas short of water (1 April 2014) At least 15 villages raided in Kutum, North Darfur (31 March 2014) RSF attacks in Baashim, North Darfur (30 March 2014) More than 10,000 livestock stolen in North Darfur (25 March 2014) At least 10 dead, 20 injured in RSF attacks on Kutum, North Darfur (26 March 2014) Dozens die in North Darfur battles (24 March 2014) Attacks in North Darfur’s Kutum displace more than 30,000 (17 March 2014)