‘Several dead and injured in Darfur air raid’: witnesses

An unknown number of people have reportedly been killed and injured in a sustained aerial bombardment, allegedly by Antonov aircraft of the Sudanese Air Force, in parts of Darfur’s East Jebel Marra on Monday and Tuesday. Multiple witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the North Darfur areas of Abu Hamra, Hafara, Dubbo Al Omda, and south-east Al Malam were hit in the raid that began at about 3pm on Monday and was reportedly sustained until Tuesday evening. The exact number of casualties has not been ascertained, as residents have apparently fled in all directions, many taking cover in the surrounding mountains and valleys. One man who fled the Dubbo Al Omda area told Radio Dabanga that the eight-year-old Yahiya Yaqoub Saleh, as well as Adam Abkar Mohamed, and Dar Es Salaam Omar Saleh, were killed as they moved towards their farm on Tuesday morning. He reported that 45 head of cattle and three donkeys were also killed. Several listeners called Radio Dabanga to report hearing loud explosions and seeing plumes of smoke rising from the areas hit towards Tuesday evening. They appealed to the UN “to impose a no-fly zone in Darfur and document the crimes committed by the regime”. File photo (arry.org)Related:  ‘Village destroyed, civilians dead and injured in Darfur air raid’: villagers (20 August 2013) 70,000 ‘facing extreme difficulty’ in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra: displaced (20 August 2013)‘At least four dead, entire village destroyed in Darfur air raids’: witnesses (18 August 2013)