Schoolchildren flee government bombing raids

Sudanese government planes carried out several bombing raids in the Eastern Equatoria region at the weekend, demolishing part of a school and causing people to flee in panic, humanitarian sources said on Monday.

The attacks began on Friday in Twic county, when 14 bombs were dropped in three raids, hitting the Panlit missionary school. Two classrooms were demolished and most of the 700 children at the school fled into the bush in panic or returned to their villages. A spokesman for the Sudan Production Aid (SUPRAID) non-governmental organisation, which works in the area, told IRIN the children were slowly trickling back from the bush, but they were too afraid to resume classes. In another raid, a herd of 73 cows was killed instantly.

On Saturday, more bombing raids took place near Turalei, causing mass panic. One old lady died of shock, but no other casualties have yet been reported. People are afraid to venture towards Turalei centre, and bush shops remained shut. The Nuer inhabitants of a displaced people’s camp fled and have not returned. SUPRAID said many of them were returnees from Western Upper Nile, and had probably gone back to that area.

The spokesman added this was the first time Twic county had been bombed consecutively two days in a row, and regional observers pointed out that the raids were probably a prelude to the “fighting season”. The local population is reported to be very nervous about the current situation in the area.