UXO kills three in East Jebel Marra, thousands without aid in North Darfur

Three people were killed when and unidentified explosive detonated near Mashrou Abu Zeid in East Jebel Marra today. Thousands of newly displaced villagers from East Jebel Marra, who reached Shangil Tobaya and Tabit in Tawila locality, North Darfur, are living in the open, without water, food, or shelter.

“Abdelmalek Ishag Adam, Musa Yahya Yagoub, and Hawa Eisa were killed, as well as the donkeys they were riding, seven kilometeres east of Mashrou Abu Zeid," one of their travel companions told Dabanga.

“Suddenly we heard and felt a loud explosion, and saw them been torn to pieces,” he said. “It must have been a landmine, or an unexploded bomb they stepped on.”

He explained that they were on their way to Shangil Tobaya in Tawila locality, North Darfur, coming from Wadi Ashara, where they had sought refuge when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, backed by the Sudanese Air Force, attacked their villages in East Jebel Marra ten days ago. 

The area also witnessed heavy clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces and allied militia troops, and rebel fighters, on 2 January.

More than 2,000 people fleeing the violence reached the camps near Shangil Tobaya the past few days, a camp elder of the Shangil Tobaya camp informed Dabanga today. “They are in a very dire situation, as they are living in the open, without water, food, or shelter, in this currently extremely cold weather.”

He added that another 2,000 newly displaced villagers who reached Tabit, north of Shangil Tobaya, also have not received any assistance so far.