More than 24,900 civilians displaced in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains: SPLM-N

Aerial bombardments and ground attacks by government forces and militias between 21 and 25 November have displaced 24,920 people, according to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). SPLM-N spokesman, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, reported to Radio Dabanga that, apart from a large number of civilians killed and injured, around 24,920 people fled from Sudanese army and militia troops looting and torching their villages in the north of the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan State. “Since these war-torn areas are far from any international border, the villagers took refuge in the forests and the hills where they are surviving in very difficult conditions, without having shelter, food, or medicines.” Lodi noted that these attacks are part of the “large military campaign” announced by the Sudanese government in mid November. According to the Sudanese Minister of Defence, the military campaign aims at resolving “the insurgency in the Darfur, the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states for once and for all”. “Yet,” Lodi said, “the attacks are primarily targeting innocent civilians while requests for safe corridors for humanitarian aid are denied.” Lodi reported that in Rashad County, Antonovs and Sukhoi aircraft bombed the villages of Shamsaga, Hajier and Tira for three consecutive days. In Shamsaga 10 people were killed and 18 injured. 12,000 fled the village. In Hajier four civilians were killed and six wounded, while 8,000 are on-the-run, and in Tira 1,200 villagers were displaced. In El Karko in Dilling County, shelling and aerial bombardments by Antinovs killed civilians and destroyed properties. In the villages of Kundukr West, Kundukr East and Shinqel, more than 20 civilians lost their life, 18 were wounded and 12 were kidnapped. 900 houses were destroyed, by fire or by looting. More than 150 farms were torched and 3,720 civilians displaced. On 26 November, a SU24 fighter jet and an Antinov targeted attacked the village of Ato in Habila County with eight bombs, killing three women, Zeinab Markon (45), Teiba Salim Habila (25) and Albera Jabir (50) and wounding four children, Nasir Osman (14), Islam Soleiman (13), Esal Soleiman (8), and Bashir Soleiman (6). Lodi commented that these attacks on civilians constitute “systematically organised war crimes and state terrorism against its own citizens”.“We believe it will be difficult for the international community to turn a blind eye towards these crimes, especially if the head of this country, which is a member of the UN, has been indicted for war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing.” File photo Related: Sudanese army planning ‘large operations’ against rebels: Minister (13 November 2013) Sudan’s Ministers announce ‘decisive campaign’ against armed movements (12 November 2013)