UN investigating air strikes in Darfur region by Sudanese armed forces

UN investigating air strikes in Darfur region by Sudanese armed forces

2011-05-19 02:03:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

DARFUR (BNO NEWS) -- The joint United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on Wednesday informed that an investigation mission was launched following the fresh round or air strikes in Sudan's Darfur region.

On Tuesday afternoon, Sudanese armed forces carried out a round of air strikes targeting the village of Sukamir, about 100 kilometers northeast of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

In response, UNAMID dispatched a team of peacekeepers based in the nearby town of Kuma to asses the situation in Sukamir, as well as collecting information on casualties and people displaced by the attack.

However, the Sudanese government has restricted access to Sukamir. The movement of aid workers from UNAMID and UN agencies has been restricted in South Darfur as authorities cited security threats and ongoing military operations.

UNAMID flights to the regions of Shangil Tobaya, Fanga Suk and neighboring regions in North Darfur were suspended until further as government officials cited security concerns too.

The UN condemned the resumption of attacks targeting the civilian population by Sudanese authorities. The air strikes took place two days after government forces bombed the town of Labado and the village of Esheraya in South Darfur.

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the team of experts tasked with monitoring the sanctions imposed in Sudan's Darfur region through February 19, 2012.

The strife-torn region of Darfur has been severely affected by the armed conflict between rebels and government forces. In February 2003, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebelled against the Sudanese government due to the oppression of non-Arab people in Darfur.

After years of fighting, the Sudanese government and the JEM agreed on a ceasefire in February 2010. An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced so far.

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