CURRENT NEWS ON DARFUR

From Genocide intervention Network
Violence continues in North Darfur where government aircrafts dropped bombs killing an eight-year-old child. In El Fasher, Janjaweed fighters clashed with members of the former rebel Sudanese Liberation Movement. Clashes crossed the border into Chad, where at least 10 villages have been attacked in the last two weeks. Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, unyielding to international pressure, renewed his refusal of the employment of a UN peacekeeping force during US Special Envoy Andrew Natsios' visit to Sudan. Members of the rebel National Redemption Front say they are prepared to begin new peace talks, in hopes of gaining autonomy for the Darfur region.

The crisis in Darfur continues in North Darfur where, the United Nations reports, a government aircraft dropped bombs killing an eight-year-old boy. Further trouble occurred in El Fasher where Janjaweed fighters and members of Mini Minawi's rebel Sudanese Liberation Movement clashed.

Such recent violence has left refugees in Darfur requesting greater protection. Additional protection from the Janjaweed is also needed for civilians in eastern Chad, says Amnesty International. In the past two weeks at least 10 villages of Chad have been attacked leaving over 100 dead and 3,000 displaced, say UN officials.

An UN report states that malnutrition levels have largely stabilized in Sudan, warning nevertheless, that increased insecurity has dramatically reduced the number of families who can reach food aid centres. Aid flow and aid workers themselves are still facing insecurity threats evidenced by the arrest of two aid workers in southern Sudan as well as an armed attempt to break into an NGO compound in West Darfur.

Jan Pronk, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, reports that the government of Sudan has lost two recent battles against National Rebel Front (NRF) rebels in the towns of Umm Sidir and Karakaya. The Sudanese government is reportedly responding military defeats and low soldier morale by mobilizing additional armed forces.