Rebels slam government disruption of Nuba vaccination campaign

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) on Tuesday accused the government of violating its own ceasefire by launching a four-pronged military offensive on Heiban, Buram, Western Jabal and Dalami in the Southern Kordofan area of the Nuba Mountains. SPLM spokesman Samson Kwaje said 8,000 people had been displaced in Buram alone, and needed urgent humanitarian assistance having had their crops and granaries looted or burned. He also condemned the government’s refusal of flight authorisation for UN flights due to leave on Tuesday for the second phase of a polio vaccination campaign in the Nuba Mountains, but said he was not surprised because of the military campaign in the area.

The SPLM also complained of continued government bombings of civilian targets, including hospitals and camps for displaced people in the south. Independent sources confirmed the bombing last week of Yari, Kotobi, Mundri and Lul in Western and Eastern Equatoria. Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) told IRIN on Thursday the second round of vaccinations in the Nuba region, set for this week, had been postponed because government agreement on the Days of Tranquillity required for the exercise had not been secured.

Negotiations were continuing to secure dates on which the second round vaccination could go ahead, an OLS official added.