Militia have surrounded and trapped a group of 2,000 people taking shelter at a base of the UN in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, after destroying their homes at the camp on Saturday.

The Khor Abeche camp’s population sought refuge with the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which has a base adjoining the camp, after troops of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) raided and destroyed the camp on Saturday morning.

The RSF militia mounted on about 50 vehicles and backed up by others on motorcycles, horses and camels, attacked the camp from two sides last Saturday, looting shops, homes and livestock belonging to the displaced, Radio Dabanga reported.

The militia also reportedly destroyed all the water wells and set the houses and buildings on fire, including a hospital managed by the World Vision organisation.

“We are trapped in the UNAMID base. Anyone leaving the base is killed or abducted. The militiamen are firing shots into the air day and night, scaring the women and children in particular,” said one of the displaced inside the UN base.

“We are living in a hell,” the source said, “Sleeping in the open, without water, food, shelter or medicines.”

Dr Ismail Hussein Fadul, Member of Parliament for the Khor Abeche constituency, strongly condemned the attack. He described it as a war crime and a crime against humanity.

He urged the South Darfur State government and humanitarian organisations to immediately intervene and transport the displaced sheltering at the UNAMID team site to El Fasher or Nyala.

“The local authorities and Unamid should protect the victims and transport them all to Nyala, where they will be safe at least,” Fadul said.

Ransom

The RSF troops have demanded a ransom of SDG 300,000 ($52,364) for the release of three people they abducted in the attack on Khor Abeche on Saturday morning, including the deputy omda of the Zaghawa, Hussein Abakar Mohamed, as well as Osman Adam Ahmed, a guard working for World Vision, and Sileik Jarelnabi.

There has been no news about the fourth person abducted, Eisa Abdallah Hileilo, who is the son of the sheikh of Khor Abeche area.

Reporting by Radio Dabanga

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