Two children die by poisoning in Darfur’s Jebel Marra

Two children died in Mashrou Abu Zeid in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra, allegedly by poisoning, after touching an unexploded bomb. A relative of one of the deceased explained to Radio Dabanga that the children, 12 and 17 years old, were herding their cattle and found an unexploded ordnance which the Sudanese Air Force dropped during a bombardment. He said that they touched it several times. After they brought the cattle home, the children went for dinner. “They touched the food with their hands. Both of them immediately started vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea. They died half an hour later.” The relative added that the livestock in East Jebel Marra suffer from a disease, which the residents are unfamiliar with. He mentioned that the symptoms are paralysis, diarrhoea, and skin rash. Many animals have died, he stressed. “The people in East Jebel Marra believe that the bombing by the Sudanese government has poisoned the drinking water, affecting the livestock.” File photo: Children look at the fins of a mortar bomb after a bombardment in North Darfur (archive) Related: Missile detonates in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (5 October 2014) Unamid visit bombed areas of East Jebel Marra, Darfur (2 October 2014) Air raid burns crops in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (29 September 2014)