Government aircraft bombs clinic in the south

A Sudanese government aircraft destroyed a Catholic medical dispensary when dropping 15 bombs on Narus in southern Sudan on Monday at about 9.45 a.m. One person was killed, and at least five wounded, including two children, humanitarian sources said. The bombing of Narus, which is 45 km from the Kenyan border town of Lokichokio, was reported in Rome by the Roman Catholic Missionary News Agency, Misna.

Information released by a Catholic diocese in southern Sudan, made available to IRIN, said three bombs were dropped on the a clinic, which belonged to the Catholic Diocese of Torit. One man was killed, and three women and two children injured, including the nurse in charge, Clementina Lobaya. None of the patients were injured. The Antonov aircraft then dropped another 12 bombs on residential areas adjacent to the home of Bishop Paride Taban, who received the information during a meeting Catholic bishops in Rome. A Sudanese NGO, Sudan Medical Care, helped evacuate the wounded to the ICRC hospital in Lokichokio, said the Catholic sources. The destruction of the clinic was condemned by the Catholic diocese in southern Sudan as an act against “innocent and defenceless civilians”, who would be left without medical facilities and attention. According to information from the diocese, Ikotos camp for displaced persons was also bombed on 14 September.