Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Armed Men Ambush Peacekeepers Serving With UN Force in Darfur
A Nigerian battalion serving with the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been ambushed by dozens of men armed with machine guns, rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the mission reported today.
About 50 to 60 armed men on horseback, dressed in military camouflage, ambushed the battalion yesterday afternoon along the new airport road near El Geneina in West Darfur state. They stole rifles, ammunition, telephones and cash.
The ambush occurred as the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) warned that continuing attacks on the staff and assets of aid agencies working in Darfur are threatening humanitarian access and worsening the already perilous conditions faced by many locals.
The hijacking of the North Darfur State Water Corporation's drilling rig by an armed group in March, for example, has meant that as many as 180,000 people may not have access to clean water this year. Read more >>>>>>
About 50 to 60 armed men on horseback, dressed in military camouflage, ambushed the battalion yesterday afternoon along the new airport road near El Geneina in West Darfur state. They stole rifles, ammunition, telephones and cash.
The ambush occurred as the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) warned that continuing attacks on the staff and assets of aid agencies working in Darfur are threatening humanitarian access and worsening the already perilous conditions faced by many locals.
The hijacking of the North Darfur State Water Corporation's drilling rig by an armed group in March, for example, has meant that as many as 180,000 people may not have access to clean water this year. Read more >>>>>>
Monday, May 19, 2008
Darfur: ‘Scorched Earth’ Tactics Warrant UN Sanctions
Darfur: ‘Scorched Earth’ Tactics Warrant UN Sanctions
Government Attacks Show Civilians Need Greater International Protection
WASHINGTON, DC - May 19 - The United Nations Security Council should impose targeted sanctions on Sudanese officials responsible for attacks against civilians in West Darfur in February 2008, said Human Rights Watch in a new report released today. Following an attack by Darfur rebels on Khartoum on May 10, 2008, Human Rights Watch also expressed concern about possible government reprisals against civilians in West Darfur.
The 35-page report, “‘They Shot at Us as We Fled’: Government Attacks on Civilians in West Darfur in February 2008,” documents how attacks on several towns in West Darfur’s “northern corridor” were a vicious reprise of Khartoum’s “scorched earth” counterinsurgency tactics. The report, based on interviews with more than 60 witnesses and victims of the attacks in West Darfur, shows how Sudanese armed forces and government-backed “Janjaweed” militia killed and injured hundreds of civilians and destroyed and looted property. The attacks occurred on February 8, 18, 19 and 22 in the towns of Abu Suruj, Sirba, Silea, and in the villages in and around Jebel Mun, a mountainous rebel-held area in northern West Darfur.
“The destruction of town after town in West Darfur shows that Khartoum has no qualms about committing the same atrocities that we saw earlier in the Darfur conflict,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “With no rebels to attack, army forces and ‘Janjaweed’ brutally targeted civilians and their property.”
Human Rights Watch said that Khartoum’s continuing violations of international law highlight the urgent need for the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) to be fully deployed, equipped and trained to effectively protect civilians where they are most at risk. Read more >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Government Attacks Show Civilians Need Greater International Protection
WASHINGTON, DC - May 19 - The United Nations Security Council should impose targeted sanctions on Sudanese officials responsible for attacks against civilians in West Darfur in February 2008, said Human Rights Watch in a new report released today. Following an attack by Darfur rebels on Khartoum on May 10, 2008, Human Rights Watch also expressed concern about possible government reprisals against civilians in West Darfur.
The 35-page report, “‘They Shot at Us as We Fled’: Government Attacks on Civilians in West Darfur in February 2008,” documents how attacks on several towns in West Darfur’s “northern corridor” were a vicious reprise of Khartoum’s “scorched earth” counterinsurgency tactics. The report, based on interviews with more than 60 witnesses and victims of the attacks in West Darfur, shows how Sudanese armed forces and government-backed “Janjaweed” militia killed and injured hundreds of civilians and destroyed and looted property. The attacks occurred on February 8, 18, 19 and 22 in the towns of Abu Suruj, Sirba, Silea, and in the villages in and around Jebel Mun, a mountainous rebel-held area in northern West Darfur.
“The destruction of town after town in West Darfur shows that Khartoum has no qualms about committing the same atrocities that we saw earlier in the Darfur conflict,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “With no rebels to attack, army forces and ‘Janjaweed’ brutally targeted civilians and their property.”
Human Rights Watch said that Khartoum’s continuing violations of international law highlight the urgent need for the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) to be fully deployed, equipped and trained to effectively protect civilians where they are most at risk. Read more >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Monday, May 05, 2008
Sudanese Air Strike in North Darfur Kills 13 Civilians
By VOA News
Reports from Darfur say an air raid by the Sudanese army has killed at least 13 people and wounded others, including children.
Aid groups and rebel representatives say a Sudanese military plane bombed the village of Shegag Karo in North Darfur state on Sunday. More >>>>>>>
Reports from Darfur say an air raid by the Sudanese army has killed at least 13 people and wounded others, including children.
Aid groups and rebel representatives say a Sudanese military plane bombed the village of Shegag Karo in North Darfur state on Sunday. More >>>>>>>
Thursday, May 01, 2008
We know all too well what the Chinese are doing in Tibet, Darfur, Burma and beyond
WASHINGTON, May 1 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today hosted a press conference at which he was joined by several lawmakers and outside organizations to highlight the numerous human rights violations directly and indirectly enabled by the Chinese government.
"China hoped the Olympics would be their international house-warming party, but it has only aired their dirty laundry. The world's conscience has been building a drumbeat against the Chinese government as we approach the Olympics," said Brownback. "We know all too well what the Chinese are doing in Tibet, Darfur, Burma and beyond. We want to make sure the world knows the horrible conditions befalling North Korean refugees who are lucky enough to escape their country, but so unlucky to end up in China." Read more >>>>>>>>
"China hoped the Olympics would be their international house-warming party, but it has only aired their dirty laundry. The world's conscience has been building a drumbeat against the Chinese government as we approach the Olympics," said Brownback. "We know all too well what the Chinese are doing in Tibet, Darfur, Burma and beyond. We want to make sure the world knows the horrible conditions befalling North Korean refugees who are lucky enough to escape their country, but so unlucky to end up in China." Read more >>>>>>>>
Abuse and Rape Part of Life for Darfur Women
Five years of conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan, women and girls in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, as well as rural areas, live in constant fear of violent sexual attacks and have no way to gain justice for crimes committed against them, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The report, titled “Five Years On – No Justice for Sexual Violence in Darfur” shows the problem of sexual violence has gone unabated for years. A humanitarian organization, Medecins sans Frontieres, treated almost 500 women and girls from October 2004 to February 2005. In 2006, IRIN news agency reported that during a five-week period there were over 200 reports of sexual assault.
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