Death, fire in wake of new North Darfur air raids

January 8 - 2015 UM BARU



Um Zeifa village in Darfur after an attack by government-backed militiamen (HRW)

An as yet unknown number of people were killed and injured in air raids on a number of villages in Um Baru locality in North Darfur today. Three villages were destroyed by fire.

Mohamed Ahmed Minawi, independent MP for Um Baru and Karno localities, told Dabanga that fighter jets of the Sudanese Air Force began bombing the area of Abu Leha on Wednesday.

“An Antonov and a MiG fighter jet dropped six bombs. No casualties were reported. Today the Air Force bombarded the area again with a total of 15 bombs. The exact number of people killed, and injured has not reached us yet.”

“Harba Shekeish, Mandara, and Mito burned to ashes, as the explosions set fire to the houses,” he added. “More than a thousand head of cattle were killed too.”

Minawi called on the Sudanese Air Force and the government to stop the aerial bombardments on civilians. He stressed the “absence of any rebel fighters in the region”.

Arabic Forum