Bombing in Upper Nile, South Sudan

Witnesses reported that Sudanese armed forces bombed Al Maban county in Upper Nile state, South Sudan last week. Al Maban county lies 110 km from Blue Nile state which is located on the north side of the border. Three people were killed and many more wounded in the attack. One person was seriously injured but later died in hospital. The governor of the Upper Nile county stated that the humanitarian situation was getting worse due to the constant bombardment by government forces between the two states. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced.Bombing in Blue Nile The humanitarian chief of the SPLM-N, the northern political wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army reported to Radio Dabanga that the government began intensive air bombardment last week in Blue Nile state. Hashem Erth Daw said that the Antonov aircrafts attacked crop farms and agricultural produce. He accused the government of using food as a weapon against civilians that had chosen to stay in areas controlled by the SPLM. The areas targeted were Bao, Kurmuk and Qaysan. Erth Daw appealed to humanitarian organizations to break the siege imposed by the Sudanese government to allow humanitarian aid to the area, to protect citizens. Release all prisoners of war Chairman of the SPLM-N Malik Agar said in a statement that he will release all prisoners of war in Blue Nile state, in compliance with the Geneva convention. He said that they will be handed over from the armed forces to the International Committee of the Red Cross.