Rape and Ethnic Cleansing: Sudanese refugees in Chad describe atrocities in Darfur
Sudanese refugees in Chad recount atrocities happening in Darfur
Thousands of Sudanese fled due to the raging war in their country, witnessing ethnic cleansing and systematic rape. This was narrated by Sudanese individuals in a crowded shelter in the desert of eastern Chad, according to the “Agence France-Presse” (AFP).
Horror stories
Mariam Adam Yaya (34 years old) tries to silence her hunger by sipping tea boiled on firewood while sitting on the ground in front of her shelter in the Adré camp. Mariam, belonging to the Masalit tribe, crossed borders on foot after a four-day journey without food, carrying her eight-year-old son on her back. She says she was forced to leave seven of her other children after an attack by men “armed to the teeth” on her village.
Random killings
In Darfur, civilians face widespread violence, raising UN concerns about a potential new genocide in the region. Mariam tells AFP, “What we witnessed in Ardamata was terrifying; unknown militias randomly killed the elderly and children.”
In the city of Ardamata alone, in western Darfur, more than a thousand people were killed in early November by armed groups, according to the European Union. These acts of violence forced over eight thousand people to flee to neighboring Chad within a week, according to the United Nations.
International condemnation
Western capitals, including Washington, accused elements of armed militias of committing “crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.” The European Union also suspects the occurrence of “ethnic cleansing” in Darfur.
The Security Council expressed “concern” about the spread of violence in Sudan. Those who escaped violence in Darfur tell horrifying stories of widespread killings and rape amid a growing displacement movement outside the country.
Refugee crowding
Upon reaching the border area of Wadi, refugees cram into camps run by non-governmental organizations and other informal camps, where they build shelters with available materials.
Chad hosts the largest number of Sudanese refugees, reaching nearly half a million people since the start of the war, according to the latest tally from the UN Refugee Agency.
In addition to displacement and the atrocities witnessed by the Sudanese, hunger adds to their suffering. Mariam says that since arriving in Chad with her child, they can “barely find something to eat.”
Water scarcity is a source of tension in the camps, and humanitarian organizations present there seek to alleviate it.
Amira Khamees (46 years old), a refugee from the Masalit tribe in Darfur, who lost five of her children, says, “Armed men killed many men, raped girls, raped women, and killed men and youth.”
Amir Adam Haroun, another refugee from the Masalit tribe, injured by a shrapnel explosion in the leg, says, “They attacked us when I was moved to Chad for treatment.”
In addition to the seven million internally displaced people, the United Nations reported on Thursday that another 1.5 million fled to neighboring countries.
Since the fighting erupted on April 15, Wad Madani, located 180 kilometers south of Khartoum, has become a haven for thousands of displaced people from other areas. However, the Security Council said that the fighting has also reached there, prompting the displaced to flee again.
UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday, “According to the International Organization for Migration, up to 300,000 people fled Wad Madani in a new and widespread displacement wave.”
As battles continue to control key sites in the city, store owners closed their shops and fortified them, fearing looting, while women disappeared from the streets fearing sexual violence.
Large displacement movement towards Ethiopia
The Passport and Immigration Administration of the Sudanese state of Al-Qadarif witnessed a severe congestion and a dense exodus following the opening of the border crossing with Ethiopia.
SOS calls
The preparatory committee of the Doctors’ Union urgently launched an appeal to international humanitarian organizations to intervene quickly in the city of “Wad Madani” and areas in the state of Al-Jazirah, confirming that the situation has become catastrophic after armed individuals entered.
