Increased rape cases in West Darfur

Six women have been raped in the state in the past five days aloneSix rape cases were reported in the past five days in West Darfur, sources in the region told Radio Dabanga.In all these cases, shepherd militias have been accused of committing the crimes in farmlands. Three of the victims were raped in Garsila while three others near Banjajid refugee camp in Sirba locality.Garsila rapesA citizen of Golumbu in West Deleinj locality told Radio Dabanga that a group of shepherds wearing military uniforms raped a refugee from the region in a farm on Sunday. “It happened after the farmers who were working in the field refused entry to the shepherds into their farms. They beat the farmers along with two other neighbors who tried to intervene in the proceedings,” the witness said.He added that the woman was then raped in the fields. The rape victim as well as those who suffered injuries in the fight have been taken to the hospital for treatment.In yet another rape incident in Garsila, two refugees were gang raped in Faye area by an armed group on Friday, a relative of the victim told Radio Dabanga.The relative said, “Eight gunmen on the backs of camels abducted two girls who were on their way to the camp after harvesting the farms and then took turns to rape her. The police was notified of the incident. However, they refused to track down the culprits.”Banjadid campIn a separate incident, an armed group raped three displaced women in West Darfur’s Banjadid camp in Sirba locality on Thursday.A witness told Radio Dabanga that four armed men riding camels and horses stopped the three women who were on their way back home from Arminkol camp, where they were visit their families. “They were gang raped and not set free until the following day,” the witness said.He added that the four militants were also responsible for the rape of another 15-year-old girl on the same day. “She had been working in a farm close to the camp. There were other women with her who were able to escape being raped, but she couldn’t,” the relative said.The police from Banjadid station reportedly said that it wasn’t their responsibility to track down the offenders after a case had been filed.North DarfurOn other hand, an armed group allegedly raped a refugee from Kassab camp near Kutum town in North Darfur on Friday.A witness told Radio Dabanga that the gunmen abducted four women who were on their way to collect firewood in the north of the camp.“They ordered the women to undress and sit down in front of them. Three of them escaped but raped the fourth refugee couldn’t. She was young and couldn’t flee the scene. So she got raped,” the witness said. The militants allegedly gang raped her until late Thursday evening.