May 18, 11

NEWS / UN-AU mission investigates fresh round of air strikes in Sudans Darfur region

18 May 2011 –
Sudanese armed forces have carried out another round of air strikes against a village in Darfur, this time striking a settlement in the north of the war-torn region, the joint United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reported today.

Government aircraft struck the village of Sukamir, about 100 kilometres northeast of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, yesterday afternoon.

UNAMID said it had dispatched a group of its peacekeepers based in the nearby town of Kuma to Sukamir to try to collect information on casualties and people newly displaced by the air strikes.

The Government has suspended UNAMID flights to many areas of North Darfur, citing security concerns.

The latest attacks took place two days after Government forces conducted air strikes in South Darfur, bombing the town of Labado and the village of Esheraya.

Sudanese humanitarian officials have also restricted the movement of aid workers – including those serving with UNAMID and UN humanitarian agencies – in South Darfur, citing security threats and ongoing military operations.

Darfur has been wracked by conflict and large-scale displacement since fighting first erupted between rebels, Government forces and allied militiamen in 2003. An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and as many as 2.7 million others displaced.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38423&Cr=darfur&Cr1=