International community must act to end Sudan’s “unprecedented and intense” bombing of civilians

IMMEDIATE RELEASE







A coalition of 46 organizations providing humanitarian assistance or supporting peace efforts in Sudan has written to the UN Security Council, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the League of Arab States demanding an end to the “targeting of civilians by the Government of Sudan and associated armed militia” and an independent investigation of recent attacks.



According to their letter, the recent bombing has reached an intensity that is “unprecedented” in the history of the conflict in South Kordofan which reached its third year anniversary this month.



The coalition states that attacks on civilians and their property are occurring far from the frontlines of the conflict where there are no military targets, and therefore may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. They require immediate and impartial investigation to establish the facts and responsibility for any crimes committed.



These coordinated air and ground attacks are part of an escalating military campaign across the Two Areas (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) and Darfur which the Government of Sudan has publicly proclaimed is designed to crush the protracted armed rebellions.



The coalition has presented the UN Security Council, African Union and League of Arab States with verified evidence from the ground to back up its claims. Video footage and photographs show the destruction over four days in late May when close to 60 bombs were dropped from jets and Antonov aircraft on Kauda, the unofficial capital of rebel territory in South Kordofan. Many of these bombs landed in the Kauda market, some directly hit the main local humanitarian organisation, and others fell close to two schools. They followed the bombing of the main hospital in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan on 1st May.



There are further reports from monitors on the ground of systematic #####ng, mass displacement (over 100,000 people in April/May mostly in South Kordofan), the destruction of grain stores and water boreholes, and the burning of houses in areas previously under rebel control. The coalition considers these reports credible and believes responsibility for many of these attacks lies with the Rapid Support Forces, a government-sponsored militia that comprises many former Janjaweed militias who wrought havoc on civilians in Darfur a decade ago.



“Civilians are being terrorized. They are too frightened to leave their foxholes and caves to plant their crops, which means the suffering will only worsen when they have nothing to harvest in a few months time” said Najwa Konda, Executive Director of Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organisation. The UN estimates that over 900,000 people are either internally displaced or ‘severely affected’ by the conflict in rebel-held areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.



“We fear that the international community is standing by while the Government of Sudan is unleashing a brutal campaign of terror on its own people, and once again using hunger as a weapon of war”, said Suliman Baldo of Sudan Democracy First Group.“We appeal to these international and regional protectors of peace and security to step in to stop the violence and end the impunity” said Albaqir Mukhtar of Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development.



// Ends



Notes to editors:



For more detail on the evidence of the attacks please see accompanying video footage and photographs, and to arrange interviews please contact: James Denselow, T: +44 (0)207 269 9450, M: +44 (0)7932 607711, [email protected]



Crisis Action works behind the scenes to enable our partners to respond jointly to conflict and crises.

Crisis Action should not be cited in media reports.



Spokespersons available for interview:



Ms Nagwa Konda - Executive Director, Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NRRDO). NRRDO is the main local organisation most recently targeted by the bombings in South Kordofan and one of the few local organisations providing humanitarian assistance, and the only provider of education services.

Currently visiting Nairobi [email protected] +254 704 5722 04.



Dr Suliman Baldo: Executive Director of Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) which was founded in the aftermath of the 2010 Sudan elections to monitor and report on democratic transition in Sudan and South Sudan. He is a veteran expert in Sudan matters as well as in international human rights and transitional justice. He served as the UN Independent Expert on Mali (2013) and the UN Commission of Inquiry in Cote d’Ivoire (2011).Currently visiting Addis [email protected] +251-9421-92-697.



Dr Albaqir Mukhtar: currently visiting London is Director of Al Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE), which is a prominent Sudanese civil society organisation that works for peace in Sudan through the implementation of human rights and cultural development projects. KACE monitors events in South Kordofan and Blue Nile amongst other activities. After studying and working abroad, Dr Albaqir set up the organisation in Khartoum. Following its forced closure by the government in 2013, KACE now operates from Kampala. Currently visiting London [email protected] + 442085090569; + 447852634952.



Mr Ahmed Hussain Adam: based in US is a prominent Sudanese politician and scholar from Darfur. He has been a voice for oppressed Sudanese groups and one of the principal negotiators on behalf of the people of Darfur in the various peace talks. Mr. Adam is currently a Visiting Scholar to the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Colombia University, and co-chair of the Two Sudans Forum at ISHR. He is writing a book titled: Darfur Betrayed: An Insider Perspective. At [email protected] + 1-347-567-1491



Signatories to this release are:

1. Action pour les Droits Humains et l’Amitié (ADHA)
2. African Centre For Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)
3. Ahmed H. Adam, Visiting Scholar and Co-chair of the Two Sudans Project, Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR), Columbia University
4. Algeria League for Defence of Human Rights
5. Arab Coalition for Sudan (ACS)
6. Arab Foundation for Civil Society and Human Rights Support
7. Arab Institute for Democracy (Tunisia)
8. Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI)
9. Arab Organisation for Human Rights (Libya)
10. Arab Organisation for Human Rights (Mauritania)
11. Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA)
12. Assistance Mission for Africa (AMA)
13. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO)
14. Conscience International (CI)
15. Cordaid
16. Darfur Bar Association
17. Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
18. Enough Project
19. FIDH
20. Global Centre for Responsibility to Protect
21. Governance Bureau – Sudan
22. Human Rights First Saudi Arabia
23. Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART)
24. International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC)
25. International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI)
26. Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE)
27. Kush Incorporated
28. Media Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (Shams Centre) – Palestine
29. New Sudan Council of Churches
30. Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NRRDO)
31. PAX
32. People4Sudan
33. Presbyterian Church (USA)
34. Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO)
35. Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
36. South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN)
37. South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy
38. Sudan Consortium
39. Sudan Democracy First (SDFG)
40. Sudan Social Development Organisation UK (SUDO UK)
41. Sudanese Development Initiative (SUDIA)
42. Union des Ressortissants Rwandais au Sénégal (URRS)
43. United to End Genocide
44. Waging Peace
45. West African Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Network (WARIPNET)
46. Zarga Organisation for Rural Development (ZORD) – Sudan




James Denselow



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