Thousands still hiding in the wilderness of North Darfur

A number of people who fled the attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on their villages in Kutum locality, North Darfur, have spent more than a month in the wilderness, before they reached Kassab camp for the displaced, one of the newly displaced told Radio Dabanga. “We have been living in the heat of the sun, eating one poor meal, and having only small doses of water a day.” “We had to spend all that time in the valleys and the forests because the Rapid support Janjaweed blocked the roads and there was no means of transportation. We arrived at Kassab after walking six days on foot and on donkeys.” He added that they left behind thousands of people who sought refuge in the Um Gozein and Toro Boro mountains, the Hama Gush forest, and the Gasana forests and valleys. “People have died, and diseases are spreading among them, in particular diarrhoea, measles, and whooping cough.” Photo: Newly displaced near the Unamid team site in Korma, North Darfur, 25 March 2014 (Owies Elfaki/Unamid) Related: Sudanese Air Force bombs Um Baru, RSF attacks in Kutum, North Darfur (8 April 2014) Fleeing villagers assaulted, robbed in Kutum, North Darfur (8 April 2014) Rebels expelled, areas bombed in Kutum, North Darfur (6 April 2014) At least 15 villages raided in Kutum, North Darfur (31 March 2014) RSF attacks in Baashim, North Darfur (30 March 2014) At least 10 dead, 20 injured in RSF attacks on Kutum, North Darfur (26 March 2014) Attacks in North Darfur’s Kutum displace more than 30,000 (17 March 2014)