UN reports new Darfur bombings

2008-02-25 10:04

Khartoum - United Nations officials said that new bombings were endangering thousands of civilians in Darfur on Sunday as United States and Chinese envoys sought to bolster peace efforts ahead of the conflict's five-year anniversary.

Head of the African Union-UN peacekeeping mission Rodolphe Adada and Ameerah Haq, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, issued a statement voicing grave concern and calling for access to civilians at risk.

They said: "UNAMID (the peacekeeping force) has received reports this morning of aerial bombings in the Jebel Moon area of western Darfur. We're gravely concerned for the safety of thousands of civilians who are in this area.

"As of this morning we received an assurance from the government that civilians would be allowed out of the area and to safety. We're seeking the same assurances from the rebel groups in the area."

12 000+ refugees flee

The statement said: "Any firing must stop immediately. The risks at this stage to civilians are unacceptably high... We're seeking humanitarian access."

The UN refugee agency had said that two days of heavy bombardments and attacks by the Sudanese army and Janjaweed militia earlier this month in western Darfur prompted about 12 000 more refugees to flee into eastern Chad.

The Darfur conflict marked a grim five-year anniversary on Tuesday with peace talks in tatters, the joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission running drastically below capacity and 4.2 million people living on aid handouts.

Ravaging one of the most remote and deprived places on earth, the conflict - called the first genocide of the 21st century by the US - pits ethnic minorities fighting for resources and power against state-backed Arab militias.

Economic, political marginalisation

International organisations estimated that 200 000 people had died since 2003 with 2.2 million, more than a third of the six-million Darfuri population, displaced, although the Khartoum government puts the death toll at 9 000.

Most experts said the war started on February 26 2003 after rebels attacked a garrison in North Darfur state, complaining of economic and political marginalisation, although simmering ethnic violence had occurred earlier.

The Sudanese government recruited and armed militia called Janjaweed, which in Arabic literally meant "devils on horseback," to back the fierce scorched-earth campaign meted out by its own armed forces.

China's special envoy to Darfur, Liu Giujin, and the new US special representative for Sudan, Richard Williamson, arrived separately in Khartoum on Sunday for top-level talks to press for peace ahead of Tuesday's anniversary.

"For the Chinese government side, we're ready to extend our helping hand," Liu told a news conference with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor following growing criticism over Beijing's role as Khartoum's main arms supplier.

- AFP