Imagine what this situation would be like – especially in the heat of the sun during the hottest time of the year.” In Sudan, temperatures in May can reach as high as 45 -50 degrees Centigrade (105 – 122 degrees Fahrenheit).Īt least 16 villages around Kereinek town were also attacked, the UN reported. “In terms of food, shelter -–this war has destroyed their homes and burnt their food supplies– leaving families displaced and living out in the open. “The recent attack has made already poor humanitarian conditions in Kereinek even worse,” Sharif said. The three days of conflict from 22 – 25 April in Geneina and Kereinek displaced over 100,000 people, according to preliminary UN estimates. Only four mothers remained in the hospital, insisting on staying with their children who needed oxygen support, says Emily Wambugu, a medical worker with the international charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). With four dead and two wounded in the clashes, Dr Yahya Shogar said, the hospital was closed for the first time and work stopped completely for three days, denying countless wounded medical access. “Although there were patients inside the hospital, neither armed group cared at all about this,” Geneina resident Shifa Adam told Ayin. Shooting between the forces ensued, killing one of the doctor’s assistants and a pharmacist, the official told Ayin. According to a senior official within Geneina Hospital, soldiers from the Sudanese Alliance, former rebels who signed the October 2020 Juba Peace Agreement and joined the government, entered the hospital looking for RSF members. One of the most horrific scenes in Geneina took place last Monday in the capital’s main hospital. One official from the hospital told Ayin the total figure was likely over 300 killed since the numbers that appear in the reports are only those checked by medical staff. Governor Akbar claims 210 people were killed in the three days of violence but officials and doctors from Geneina’s main hospital believe the figure is much higher. “Unfortunately, there are wounded people here in a very critical condition without medicine, not even medical staff.” With the local hospital Kereinek completely looted, the injured were transported for treatment to Geneina town.īy 25 April, the conflict had spread to the capital where residents told Ayin gunshots could be heard across the city. “The hospital here in Kereinek was completely looted by the militias –even assets and furniture were not spared,” said West Darfur General Coordinator of the displacement camps, Ahmed Sharif. “The town was completely destroyed including government institutions,” Abkar said in a press conference. West Darfur State Governor Khamis Abkar blamed the central government joint security forces for “withdrawing without any justification” allowing the fighting on 22 April to resume. Map of the conflict areas in West Darfur State (UN OCHA) A previous attack by RSF and allied militias occurred only five months earlier over a payment dispute for a mobile phone. The town of 487,000 residents, roughly a third of them displaced from prior conflicts, is no stranger to these kinds of offensives. This time, Arab pastoralists claimed someone within Kereinek town had killed one of their family members, triggering an invasion of the town on 21 April that killed over 20 people from both sides of the conflict. Like past conflicts in Darfur, the fighting started over a smaller dispute between ethnic communities. “But the could attack this area at any time so you never know whether to stay put or keep moving.” “I keep my movements to a minimum,” says Mustafa Musa* a Masalit who resides in the heavily targeted southern neighbourhood of Geneina. The day before, three others were killed in Geneina’s fruit market, forcing all shops in El Hanina market to close. Last Saturday, assailants killed four people in Geneina town, according to the Sudan Central Doctors Committee. The heave gunfire in Geneina may have subsided since last Thursday, residents told Ayin, but incidences of sporadic violence continue –killing civilians and armed militiamen alike. In turn, the Masalit community are backed by the West Darfur State Governor and former rebel leader, General Khamis Abkar, and has attempted to counter them. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Himmedti”) and seek land and control of the state. The heavily armed Arab militias are supported by Sudan’s deputy leader, Lt.-Gen. But residents fear more conflict could erupt at any time and even escalate further.Įthnic communities in West Darfur State are pitted against each other through a politicized conflict between the central and state governments. Since last week’s violence, an uneasy calm has permeated the air of West Darfur’s capital, Geneina, and the eastern town of Kereinek.
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