‘Militias’ rape five displaced women, torture 12 in West Darfur

Five displaced women from Murnei camp in West Darfur were raped near Ajakh Nari this week as they made their way from the camp to their farms. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that ‘armed militiamen’ intercepted the women, threatened them at gunpoint, and “raped them alternately”. In a separate incident this week, a sheikh told Radio Dabanga that militiamen tortured 12 other women at Wadi Grinja. The women were similarly ambushed by armed militiamen while en route to their farms. They were hit with whips and told not to return to the area. The beating was so severe that one victim had a broken leg, and another a broken hand. The Murnei sheikh repeated his appeal to international humanitarian and human rights organisations as well as Unamid to intervene and protect the displaced from the repeated militia attacks, especially during the autumn season that is so important to agriculture. “This is the only time the displaced have to grow their own food, considering that they have ceased to receive any humanitarian aid,” the sheikh said. “They do not have food, and the constant harassment and attack by the militias means they cannot farm or collect firewood or straw, which they also sell at the market to make up some of the shortfall so that they can grow or buy food.” File photo