El Fasher, 04 October 2009: The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has received reports that 13 women and children were killed and 10 persons were seriously injured during a recent attack by more than 30 armed men on Korma, North Darfur, about 70 kilometres from El Fasher. It also learned that about 6,000 to 7,000 were displaced as a result of the attacks and the village has been completely abandoned. Four people were taken away as detainees by the attackers.

A team of UNAMID uniformed and civilian personnel, accompanied by representatives from UN agencies on the ground, visited the village to assess the humanitarian situation in Korma. They met with elders from Korma and nearby villages who informed them that the villagers of Korma fled to the nearby Jebel Marra mountains and villeages in the area. However, they still felt unsafe and insecure. The team was also told that a number of rapes had been perpetrated on women and girls, and that there had been substantial looting.

In the nearby Kau village, about 5 kilometres south west of Korma, more than 400 displaced persons stated that they lacked food, water and medicines and expressed their consistent feeling of insecurity.

The villagers claimed that the attacks were launched on Thursday 17 September.

Meanwhile, UNAMID has confirmed that the village of Mou, also in North Darfur, located more than 50 kilometres from El Fasher, was bombed on Tuesday 29 September and two persons were seriously wounded. An estimated 100 persons have fled to the mountains.

UNAMID is calling for an end to these attacks and to the impact that they have on innocent civilians, including women and children. The Mission strongly emphasizes that such actions can only impede a peace process that has been gaining ground and the economic growth and development of Sudan.

The Mission is also calling for unhampered access for humanitarian personnel who are bringing relief to civilians who have been affected by these recent incidents.

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Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
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Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson; mezni@un.org – mobile: +249 (0) 92 562 9693 -+249 (0) 91 253 8420
Sharon McPherson, Media Relations, McPherson1@un.org –mobile: +249 (0) 92 224 10375 - +249 (0) 92 244 7941