Attacks against women rise in Hamidiya

Displaced women living at Hamidiya camp in Zalingei, Central Darfur, have complained about the rise of pro-government militias’ assaults against them recently, Radio Dabanga has learned on Thursday, 4 October. The women said that dozens of them were attacked in the past two weeks, adding that the last attack happened on Wednesday, 3 October, against a woman and her daughter. According to witnesses the victims were working on their farm near the camp when gunmen riding camels shot them after they resisted a rape attempt. Both women got severely injured and are now in a Zalingei hospital for treatment, witnesses explained. A female camp’s leader told Radio Dabanga that women are commonly assaulted by pro-government militia when working in farms, collecting firewood, at markets and on roads. She added attacks include rapes, beating, whipping and looting. The camp’s leader said that despite reporting the incidents to the authorities and to UNAMID, they have not done anything about it yet. Hamidiya’s displaced women announced to Radio Dabanga they are going to submit a memorandum about these abuses to the Central Darfur government, to human rights organizations and to the UN.