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Bomber attacks rebel-held town

    NAIROBI

    Six people were killed during a Sudanese government bombing raid on the southern town of Raga, the Sudanese Catholic Information Service (SCIO) said on Tuesday. Quoting Bishop Caesar Mazzalori, SCIO said a Russian-made Antonov bomber had hovered over the town on 24 June before dropping between seven and nine bombs on a “strictly civilian section of the town”. Mazzalori - bishop of the diocese of Rumbek in southern Sudan - added that a mother and baby were among the six killed.

    Speaking after a visit to Raga on Tuesday, Mazzalori was quoted as saying:

    “This is really diabolical, considering that so far the government has continued to deny humanitarian access to Raga.” He added that the 35,000 people of Raga were in dire need of medical services, food, water, and shelter.

    Since its capture by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in early June none of the major humanitarian agencies serving southern Sudan from bases in Kenya have gained clearance from the Khartoum government to go to Raga, Reuters said on Wednesday. Mazzalori appealed to NGOs to continue pressing to be allowed to provide the people of Raga with aid. “Their situation can only be saved by external intervention,” he added.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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