US concern over escalation of violence in Darfur

The USA is deeply concerned by the sharp escalation in violence and insecurity in Darfur resulting from actions committed by Sudanese government forces, government-sponsored militias, and Darfuri armed movements. It calls upon the Sudanese government to immediately allow humanitarian access to the affected populations, and to cease obstructing Unamid. In a press statement released on Wednesday, the US Department of State strongly condemns the attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on a large number of areas of villages in South and North Darfur, and the Khor Abeche camp for the displaced in East Darfur, the Sudan Air Force bombardments on East Jebel Marra, and violence used by the rebel movements. “On March 22, 300 unidentified, heavily armed men reportedly attacked the Khor Abeche Internally Displaced Persons camp, and between March 15 and 17, the Sudanese government-supported RSF attacked sixteen villages in North and South Darfur kidnapping and killing civilians. Additionally, we are disturbed by reports that on March 18, the Sudan Armed Forces bombed several villages in East Jebel Marra, which resulted in a number of civilian casualties and the displacement of over 15,000 civilians. Equally alarming are reports of several incidents involving elements of Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Minni Minawi faction and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Abdel Wahid faction, which resulted in heavy civilian casualties in North Darfur.” “We urge all parties to immediately halt attacks against civilians, and further call upon the Government of Sudan to prevent further violence, particularly the indiscriminate attacks committed by government-sponsored militias, such as the RSF, and to cease its own campaign of aerial bombardments.” “We also reiterate our call for the Government of Sudan to immediately allow full and unfettered humanitarian access to affected populations who are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and to cease obstructing the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid) as it works to carry out its mandate to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.” “Violence and insecurity in Darfur so far this year have displaced an estimated 215,000 civilians. We urge the Government of Sudan and armed movements to begin an inclusive and comprehensive political dialogue to bring peace to Sudan and to re-establish the rule of law.” Photo: Newly displaced people in Kalma camp, South Darfur, on 9 March. They fled the looting and destruction by the RSF of their villages southeast of Nyala on 27 and 28 February. The new arrivals are suffering from a lack of water, food, medicines, and shelter. Some have received support from other displaced in the camp to start making temporary shelters. (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid) Related:Khor Abeche camp in South Darfur laid waste (23 March 2014) Dead, injured as more than 16 villages attacked in North Darfur (18 March 2014)Darfur’s East Jebel Marra bombarded again; thousands displaced (18 March 2014) 10,000 flee militia attacks on Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (16 March 2014)Joint rebels capture towns; North Darfur citizens protest (7 March 2014) Thousands displaced in attack on more than 35 villages in South Darfur (28 February 2014) ‘Rapid Support Forces in Darfur to fight rebels’: General (26 February 2014)