Rebels expelled, areas bombed in Kutum, North Darfur

The Governor of North Darfur announced the expulsion of rebel elements from Kutum locality on Sunday. On the same morning, the Sudanese Air Force bombed the area of Amarei in the locality. North Darfur State Governor Osman Kibir told the pro-government Ashorooq TV this afternoon (Sunday) that the areas of Bir Mazza and Birdik in Kutum locality have been “liberated”. “The insurgents have been expelled from these areas, which were their last strongholds in North Darfur for a long time.” A resident from the area east of Amarei in Kutum locality reported to Radio Dabanga that “at 10am on Sunday an Antonov dropped eight bombs on the area. Dozens of sheep, goats, cows, camels, and donkeys were killed.” Thirst and starvation He reported that the number of people, who fled the attacks by the Sudanese security-led Rapid Support Forces and “other government-backed militias” on the area north of Kutum town two weeks ago, reached about 10,000. “So far they have not received any humanitarian aid. An 80-year-old sheikh named Mohamed Ahmed Jido, died on Sunday morning of thirst and starvation.” The newly displaced, most of them women, children and elderly, sought refuge in the hills and valleys. “They are living in a catastrophic situation, and face the risk of dying of thirst and starvation. The temperature is rising, and it is already really hot these days.” The resident appealed to the authorities, humanitarian organisations, and Unamid to accelerate the provision of water, food, and medicines. File photo Related:Thousands of North Darfur villagers flee to areas short of water (1 April 2014)At least 15 villages raided in Kutum, North Darfur (31 March 2014)At least 10 dead, 20 injured in RSF attacks on Kutum, North Darfur (26 March 2014)Dozens die in North Darfur battles (24 March 2014)Attacks in North Darfur’s Kutum displace more than 30,000 (17 March 2014)