Sleeping farmers ‘whipped, robbed by militia’ in Darfur midnight raid

Displaced residents of Murnei camp in West Darfur were reportedly whipped and beaten by pro-government militiamen on Sunday night for sleeping on their farms. One of the sheikhs of the camp told Radio Dabanga that 13 farmers from Murnei were spending the night on their farms in the Jumjum area just to the west of the camp. “The pro-government militia arrived at about midnight, riding camels and horses. They whipped and beat the displaced with rifle butts and sticks, causing them varying injuries,” the sheikh said. “The militia then stole all of their property and baggage, threatening to beat or even kill them if they return.” The sheikh said that two of the victims had serious injuries and were transported to hospital in Murnei for treatment. “This is the fifth time that this has happened in less than a month,” the sheikh complained, demanding from the authorities and Unamid to “put an end to violations and abuses by the militias by arresting those involved and bringing them to justice”. The displaced inhabitants of nearby Ronga Taz camp in the neighbouring Azum locality in Central Darfur state have complained of a lack of food, medicine and water, appealing to international organisations to provide them with basic services. One of the sheikhs of the camp explained to Radio Dabanga that the displaced persons, especially the children, are enduring difficult humanitarian conditions, aggravated by an acute water shortage. This is caused as the water pumps have broken down and need urgent repair,” he said. File photo: Farmers in West Darfur (enoughproject.org/ Laura Jones) Related: Displaced farmers attacked and injured by ‘militiamen’ in Central Darfur (23 June 2013) ‘Over 300 farms’ destroyed by herders near Darfur camp (29 March 2013)