March 7th, 2008 - OurPledge.org (AADG)  Permalink  View & Add Comments

BBC: Sudan still bombing in Darfur

March 6, 2008 — A BBC correspondent in Chad has seen helicopters drop bombs over the Sudanese border in Darfur.

Stephanie Hancock says she saw a helicopter flying across the sky, then heard explosions and saw clouds of smoke coming from the ground.

Nations sending peacekeepers to Darfur are due to discuss how to speed up the force’s deployment later at the UN.

Earlier, Russia offered to provide some of the helicopters which the force needs to move around the vast area.

So far only 9,000 of the planned 26,000 troops are on the ground.

Scared

Our correspondent in Baga Katala on the eastern Chadian border with Sudan was with a group of refugees who had fled previous bombing in Darfur.

They said Sudan’s military wanted to stop them returning home.

Thousands of people have fled a recent government offensive in West Darfur.

Our correspondent said the helicopter was a dark colour — the refugees said the Sudanese military helicopters are black.

She said the refugees were clearly upset to see the bombing and scared in case some bombs fell over the border.

The UN is moving the refugees further into Chad away from the border.

Sudan’s government says it has destroyed several rebel camps during its offensive in the Jebel Moun area.

At least 200,000 people have died in Sudan’s five-year conflict, with more than two million fleeing their homes.