EAST JEBEL MARRA (15 Apr.) - At least five children have died and many other people injured during a large-scale attack, allegedly by government-backed Rapid Support Services (RSF) militiamen, on East Jebel Marra on Tuesday.
Witnesses fleeing the attack told Radio Dabanga that about 600 militiamen driving vehicles including Land Cruisers launched a large-scale offensive on the villages of Hashaba ,Kutto , Krafula , Kuijr, Tumu , Kadarik , Umm Triter, Abu, Umm Driseiya, Sharafa, and Dali.
Ezzedine Harun Yahiya (6 months), takiya Bharalden Fahlka (2), Aisha Mukhtar Mohammed (1), Jibril Ahmed Saleh (4), the child Jaqoob Adam (3) are known to have died in the attack. Many others have been wounded.
“The attackers abducted several women and girls, as well as extensively looting money and property from individuals and businesses. The exact number of casualties has not yet been ascertained, as citizens fled in all directions to take cover in the surrounding valleys and mountains.”
Fleeing listeners also said that the RSF has occupied all of the water sources in East Jebel Marra, and have blocked the main roads linking the area’s major towns. “All main roads linking East Jebel Marra to El Fasher, Nyala, Shangil Tobaya, and Tawila are blocked,” said callers, who fear starvation and thirst.
They appealed to the Unamid, the UN and the Security Council to intervene urgently “to save us from certain death that looms on all sides of East Jebel Marra.