Heavy shelling forces villagers out of homes in North Darfur

Heavy shelling took place across five villages in North Darfur forcing residents to flee from their homes. Witnesses said an Antonov plane bombed the villages of Dika, Bain, Keda, Jok and Senagarai over the past three days and is still circling the area. They said planes dropped more than 40 bombs as ground troops in six tanks and 150 vehicles moved in to the villages beating male residents, looting and burning houses. The soldiers also reportedly raped more than 30 women and girls and arrested ten of the men. Eight were released, Hassan Jarrah and Ismail Muhammed remain in detention. Witnesses said villagers fled to Wadi Maghrib in the desert area where they are now surrounded by government forces. They appeal to humanitarian organisations to save the villagers who are mainly women and children and provide emergency relief. The government of North Darfur said it besieged a small rebel group affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi. The Sudan Revolutionary Front denied the allegations. ‘The government displaced and wounded many civilians, looted and burned villages, destroyed livestock and water sources,’ said a Justice and Equality Movement spokesman.