Sudan: UN Mission reports fresh violence, looting in Darfur

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) today reported fresh violence, looting and attacks on refugee camps in the strife-torn western Darfur region, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced during two-years of fighting between the Government, allied militia and rebels.

UNMIS received several reports of related incidents indicating that banditry and armed attacks on vehicles – UN-hired trucks, as well as vehicles operated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and commercial enterprises – continue in the three Darfur States. The goods on the trucks were looted and while there were no reported casualties, there were some reports that trucks had been hijacked.

Meanwhile, UNMIS says that last Thursday, a Sudanese Government police officer on his way to Zam Zam camp in North Darfur was killed by unidentified gunmen and his weapon taken. Also, in South Darfur on Saturday, armed tribesmen reportedly attacked returnees from Kalma camp in their village of origin, Sarman Jago.

The attackers surrounded the village and stole the returnees’ belongings. No casualties were reported, UNMIS said.

In a separate incident on Saturday, unidentified armed men attacked and killed four persons in a village 29 kilometres from of Nyala, South Darfur, who were sleeping near their cattle. The bodies were brought to Nyala hospital by the relatives of the victims.