Bombing of civilians a “violation”

In a joint statement, NGOs operating in southern Sudan condemned the bombing of civilians. It said 250 bombs had been dropped on civilian targets in July, in a government campaign that also targeted humanitarian agencies. “As well as causing casualties and deep trauma, the widespread bombing has destroyed homes, schools and churches,” the statement said. Releasing a detailed list of 33 reported bombing incidents during July, the NGOs said civilians had been killed, injured, displaced from their homes, and had lost the opportunity to grow food. It said the targeting of Sudanese citizens and the humanitarian agencies assisting them was a “direct violation of international law”.

Also condemning the “specific targeting” of NGO compounds, planes, airstrips, clinics, humanitarian distribution points and other facilities, the statement said the action had undermined the level and quality of aid being delivered. The statement was signed by 13 organisations and individuals working outside Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), a humanitarian consortium that operates under a negotiated agreement with the Sudanese government and the SPLA.

Recent government criticism has focused on non-OLS NGOs. An NGO source told IRIN that some humanitarian agencies had felt it necessary to work outside the consortium because after 10 years, “it has failed to gain access to crucial areas needing relief”, including the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile province and areas around the oil fields. But, the source said, there was concern within the NGO community that the government campaign against the non-OLS aid agencies was effectively “dividing” the humanitarian community and isolating independently-operating organisations, despite their recognised role.