UN reports heavy air bombardment in Sudan's Southern Kordofan

[News_Editor]

UN reports heavy air bombardment in Sudan's Southern Kordofan

2011-06-15 08:23:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Tuesday said that at least 11 bombs were dropped on an airfield in the troubled Sudanese Southern Kordofan state.

The bombing was the latest event in the ongoing bombing campaign by Sudanese warplanes in areas surrounding the towns of Kadugli and Kauda. UNMIS expressed its concerns as blasts have often caused great suffering to local civilians and hampered humanitarian assistance efforts.

For more than a week, heavy fighting has been taking place across Southern Kordofan between forces of the northern Government and soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) from the southern region, which is due to formally secede next month.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States is deeply concerned about the 'rapid and significant' deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation in Southern Kordofan state. "If Sudan chooses to escalate further the situation and pursue a military solution to the future status of Abyei and Southern Kordofan, the United States will not move forward on the roadmap to normalization of relations and Sudan will face deeper international isolation," he warned.

Last Friday, the facilities of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in Kadugli were pillaged. An estimated $180,000 in drugs, medical supplies, vehicles and other equipment was stolen from its office, warehouse and guesthouse.

In addition, most of the health workers in Southern Kordofan have left and the Kadugli Hospital ceased its activities last Sunday. UNMIS took all patients in and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society established two health-care centers around the UN mission's base.

The fighting has severely affected humanitarian efforts. Flights were denied authorization to land in Kadugli despite efforts by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Access by land was hampered by armed militiamen who set up roadblocks and thus prevented the delivery of aid for about 10,000 people.

The UNHCR estimated that there are about 41,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in need of assistance around Kadugli and other areas of Southern Kordofan. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been able to deliver seven-day food rations to 12,000 people and expects to reach a total of 26,000 people in the coming days.

Earlier this year, millions of Southern Sudan residents voted in favor of separating from the rest of the African nation. The referendum was seen as the culminating point of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended the long north-south civil war in Sudan.

The armed conflict killed some 2 million people and forced an estimated 4.5 million others out of their homes. Under the CPA, the SPLA became the official army of South Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) the ruling party.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-15