Renewed air strikes in East Jebel Marra

Several areas in East Jebel Marra have been exposed to air strikes by the Sudanese Air Forces (SAF) on Tuesday October 30, witnesses told Radio Dabanga. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that an Antonov plane started shelling the areas of Kunjara, Sunduga, Karvala and Tardona at around three o’clock on Monday night. The shelling reportedly continued for an hour and a half. They added that five bombs were dropped in the area of Kunjara and ten bombs in the areas of Sunduga, Karvala and Tardona.The witnesses pointed out that the shelling resulted in the death of 15 donkeys, a number of cows and sheep, at a water reservoir in the area of Kunjara. In the area of Sunduga four cows and a number of lambs and sheep died as a result of the shelling, as well as the outbreak of widespread fires in millet, sorghum, beans and sesame farms, the witnesses added. They said that the continuous SAF shelling of areas in East Jebel Marra is not just aiming at killing and displacing people, it is also aiming at destroying the people’s livelihood (farming, cattle and water sources), the witnesses added to Radio Dabanga from East Jebel Marra. Number of casualtiesOn the same topic, residents and activists from the area estimate the number of casualties as a result of airstrikes from the beginning of the year until now, at approximately 750, excluding the number of injured or those suffering from diseases caused by remnants of aerial bombardments. Witnesses from the area disclosed to Radio Dabanga that resident Adam Saleh, an elderly man of 80 years old, was killed in Saturday’s shelling of al-Sabi village, adding that two children, Hawa and Adam Saleh, were injured on the same day as a result of an airstrike at about two kilometers outside of al-Sabi. They revealed that many villages and extensive areas of East Jebel Marra have been exposed to shelling on Saturday. Among the areas are al-Sabi, Sharfa, Doulmah, Hillat Umm Bouje, Nimera and Kera, the witnesses added to Radio Dabanga in this regard.700 acres of agricultural land destroyed At the same time, a witness told Radio Dabanga that the intense shelling on Saturday led to a fire, burning 700 acres of agricultural land, adding that the fire is still burning.The witness explained that residents are not equipped to extinguish the widespread fire. Residents asked Radio Dabanga “Where is UNAMID to help us?”, adding that the fire can be seen all the way from Shangil Tobay as well as from Tawila. “Why don’t they [UNAMID] do something? Why don’t they write a report about this?”, the residents added. Residents appealed to all parties concerned with human rights to come to East Jebel Marra and end their suffering, they added to Radio Dabanga from the area.Related content: Continued airstrikes in East Jebel Marra (25 October 2012)