Landmine blast kills five in South Kordofan

At least five people were killed and 19 others wounded in a landmine explosion in Sudan’s South Kordofan according to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society on Wednesday. Among the dead is a volunteer of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society. Nineteen people including six Red Crescent workers were injured. The aid organisation reported on Wednesday that the blast occurred when a vehicle, carrying civilians and an unspecified number of aid workers, passed a landmine in the area of Gadir, about 25km west of Abu Jubaiha. They were on their way to provide medical treatment to civilians in the area of Karida, who were wounded following an attack by gunmen on the town. The wounded passengers received first aid before being brought to the hospital. Red Crescent appealed to all parties to “abide by international laws that prohibit the use of land mines” in its statement. Blue NileThe 19 passengers of a lorry in Sudan’s Blue Nile were wounded when a landmine exploded on 6 January. The incident took place in Dokan village in Kurmuk locality while the lorry was travelling toward a market within the area. Dr Mohamed Ali, director of Damazin Hospital, told that six of the victims were seriously injured. “Most of the injured were women and children, and some need extensive operations, especially amputations.” Initially the rest had already received treatment in the hospital in Dokan area and their condition is relatively stable. File photo: Children playing with the rests of a bomb in North Darfur (Albert Gonzalez Farran/ Unamid)