Jebel Marra bombardments, attacks on Darfur villages intensify

Intensified aerial bombardments by the Sudanese Air Force killed and wounded a number of people in East Jebel Marra on Wednesday and Thursday. Sudan has continued and intensified its bombardments in the area for the fifth consecutive day. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have burned several villages, killed and injured residents, and kidnapped at least three people. RSF attacks, lootings The RSF militias led by Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Hamdan attacked and assaulted Rubkona on Wednesday, an escapee said. “They killed one of my relatives, Ahmed Musa, and wounded others, including three children. The troops kidnapped Haroun Mohamed Musa, Mohamedein Abdel Rahman Adam, and Adam El Tom Ahmed.” A number of cattle in Rubkona were also killed. In addition to Rubkona, Faki Idris, Duba El Omda, and Hillet Beni Hussein were also plundered by Hemeti’s militia, according to the displaced. “They left in about 100 vehicles to Tabit area on Wednesday, moving to Sharafa area,” a source said. “On Thursday, the troops attacked Sharafa, Arasho, Um Beji, and Tangarara in East Jebel Marra.” Citizens were beaten and robbed of their possessions and livestock. Flight  to Tawila The RSF from Tabit also swept through Hila Baja, Mando, Payara, and Sosa in East Jebel Marra, a listener told Radio Dabanga. “They traveled in about 200 vehicles armed with various weapons and plundered the towns. People fled to Tawila town on Wednesday.” People also fled to Tawila from Jebel Goz and Kunjara areas, following aerial bombardments by the Sudanese Air Force. “About 2,000 people arrived there on Thursday, and they are currently living in schools or in the open, in difficult humanitarian conditions”, a witness told Radio Dabanga. Sources in the region reported the displacement of approximately 3,000 people from East Jebel Marra to the area of Tabit on Tuesday, about 2,500 to Tawila, and 1,800 to the area of ​​Shangil Tobaya, owing to the aerial bombardments. Violence condemned The National Umma Party (NUP) has condemned the violence of “the mercenaries of the Khartoum regime”, which it calls “the Rapid Support Janjaweed led by Hemeti”. Nasreldin Hadi Mahdi stressed that “Sudanese people are loyal and resist the courage to conquer the tyranny of the regime in Khartoum”. Map: Jebel Marra area in Darfur Related: Darfur rebels battle Rapid Support Forces in East Jebel Marra (19 March 2014) Darfur’s East Jebel Marra bombarded again; thousands displaced (18 March 2014)