AID WORKERS FLEE DARFUR BOMBING !
More than two million have been displaced by the Darfur conflict. Some United Nations aid workers are withdrawing from eastern Chad, following bombing across the Sudanese border in Darfur.
A camp for displaced Darfuris was hit during the bombing, although it was empty as people had fled an earlier government offensive.
The UN humanitarian chief earlier warned of "disastrous consequences" for 20,000 civilians if attacks continued.
Aid workers say the bombing could be heard in Chad.
At least 200,000 people have died in five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-government militias in Darfur.
The UN refugee agency said its staff would return when the situation calmed down.
The BBC's Stephanie Hancock says the bombing raid continued into Tuesday morning and could be heard by aid workers over the border in Chad.
'Caught in the middle'
The bombing reportedly claimed the life of a 55-year-old woman who lost both her legs, as refugees fled into Chad.
The latest influx of refugees comes as aid agencies struggle to cope with an estimated 10,000 people who fled Darfur in the last week following previous bombing raids.
Residents say more than 100 people were killed in that offensive against three major towns.
UN humanitarian chief Sir John Holmes called for all parties to act now to stop the attacks and help bring those responsible to account under international law.
"I am very concerned for the civilian population caught in the middle of this violence," he said.
"Should further attacks occur, the consequences for 20,000 civilians in this area could be disastrous."
The joint African Union and UN peacekeeping mission is due to expand to 26,000 people this year, though currently just 9,000 peacekeepers are in place.
The government has denied links to the Janjaweed militia, accused of trying to "cleanse" the region of black Africans.
At least two million people have been displaced by the conflict in Darfur.
Sudan and Chad both accuse each other of harbouring rebel groups.
BBC NEWS REPORT.A camp for displaced Darfuris was hit during the bombing, although it was empty as people had fled an earlier government offensive.
The UN humanitarian chief earlier warned of "disastrous consequences" for 20,000 civilians if attacks continued.
Aid workers say the bombing could be heard in Chad.
At least 200,000 people have died in five years of conflict between rebels, the army and pro-government militias in Darfur.
The UN refugee agency said its staff would return when the situation calmed down.
The BBC's Stephanie Hancock says the bombing raid continued into Tuesday morning and could be heard by aid workers over the border in Chad.
'Caught in the middle'
The bombing reportedly claimed the life of a 55-year-old woman who lost both her legs, as refugees fled into Chad.
The latest influx of refugees comes as aid agencies struggle to cope with an estimated 10,000 people who fled Darfur in the last week following previous bombing raids.
Residents say more than 100 people were killed in that offensive against three major towns.
UN humanitarian chief Sir John Holmes called for all parties to act now to stop the attacks and help bring those responsible to account under international law.
"I am very concerned for the civilian population caught in the middle of this violence," he said.
"Should further attacks occur, the consequences for 20,000 civilians in this area could be disastrous."
The joint African Union and UN peacekeeping mission is due to expand to 26,000 people this year, though currently just 9,000 peacekeepers are in place.
The government has denied links to the Janjaweed militia, accused of trying to "cleanse" the region of black Africans.
At least two million people have been displaced by the conflict in Darfur.
Sudan and Chad both accuse each other of harbouring rebel groups.
Labels: Darfur Sudan Chad African-Union Janjaweed Cleanse Violence U.N. Refugees Raids Aid-Workers Militias
posted by jackaranda at 7:18 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home