Images confirm militias torched 400 shelters in South Darfur

Satellite images confirm earlier reports of the Rapid Support Forces’ torching and attacking of Khor Abeche camp for the displaced people in South Darfur, which lasted for almost a week. Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) imagery from 26 March shows over 400 huts, tents, and temporary shelters burned by the Sudanese government’s paramilitary forces in the South Darfur camp for internally displaced people. Analysis found that most of the destruction affected the structures adjacent to the peacekeeping AU-UN Mission in Darfur (Unamid) compound, which itself was not damaged. One image shows a large group of people in the middle area of the compound, 80km north east of state capital Nyala. The temporary shelters adjacent to the Unamid site and a portion of the Khor Abeche village suffered significant fire damage. The analysts estimate that over 400 shelters are destroyed in the areas closest to the peacekeeping base, including groupings of residences in ‘family unit’ configurations. Shelter at Unamid base A Unamid spokesman said that peacekeepers and displaced people at Khor Abeche were first alerted of a possible attack to the camp on March 21. The population of the camp, about 3,000 people, took refuge at the Unamid base. The following day, while the peacekeepers protected those within the compound, about 300 heavily armed men set fire to the nearby camp. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a resident of the camp recounted that “militiamen of the Rapid Support Forces” attacked the camp. “They came in about 50 vehicles loaded with various weapons.” The forces assaulted, burned, and looted the residents’ properties, and injured and abducted a number of people. “The Unamid team site is located about ten metres from the camp,” the source noted. “We all fled to the site for protection. The day after they were still besieging us. Everyone leaving the site is killed or abducted.” The attacks would continue for several days, while the residents remained in the Unamid base, which was also besieged. (DigitalGlobe/SSP) Satellite photo: Destruction of Khor Abeche camp, captured from above on 27 March (SSP). See the full image below. Related: Militias’ looting of South Darfur camp continues (28 March 2014) New satellite images show bomb craters, burned villages in Darfur’s Jebel Marra (27 March 2014)