Thousands more Flee renewed Janjaweed attacks in Darfur

Christian World Service has reported continuing attacks taking place in Darfur, which have forced thousands more people to flee their homes and seek refuge in relief camps.

CSW National Director, Jonathan Fletcher said, “Renewed fighting has occurred around Ta’asha in South Darfur, one of the areas where Christian World Service and Caritas (New Zealand) partners are working.

This has caused a huge influx of people arriving at camps which cater for internally displaced persons (IDP’s) over the past few days.

He continued, “Attacks forced at least 5,000 people to flee their homes in the last three days. Reports have said shooting is still going on.”

This renewed violence has come despite the recent talks being held by the Untied Nations. The Janjaweed are apparently still heavily armed, and still destroying villages throughout Darfur, leaving chaos and fear in their wake.

The victims of the violence are fleeing without any food or water, and most arrive into the camps with few or no belongings at all.

“We ran away with food for only two days. It has now run out, and my children are hungry,” said a mother of three children, aged just 14, 9 and 4 years old.

Another woman described to reporters how the Janjaweed militia came on horses and camels, followed by soldiers: “They started shooting at us and looted everything in the village,” she said. Survivors indicated that as many as three hundred soldiers took place in the attacks.

Christian World Service have described how since they began working in the area the number of IDP’s has exploded. Fletcher commented, “We are extremely concerned. These people risk being totally cut off, and face famine.”

Currently, new arrivals can expect to arrive in the packed camps and receive no shelter, food, water, sanitation or medical supplies due to the overcrowding. Tim Chiswell, from Caritas Neew Zealand said, “More relief aid id urgently needed. We are asking New Zealanders to give generously to the Caritas/Christian World Service appeal.”

Christian World Service has been providing relief in camps throughout the Darfur region of Sudan, and in particular, in Nyala, Zalingi and Ta’asha. They have been distributing food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare to thousands of families who have been forced to flee from the attacking Janjaweed. However, it is this increased influx of extra victims that is causing problems to the aid agencies.

Chiswell said, “We are being told of mothers sitting in open spaces, trying to comfort their children. They are very traumatised and desperate for help. They fear what will now happen. They no longer have enough food to feed their children.”