Darfur Follow-ups: Port Sudan
The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed its shock over the attack on a humanitarian convoy that led to the death of two and the wounding of 7 others.
The committee said in a statement: “The International Committee of the Red Cross is shocked and horrified by the alleged attack on its humanitarian convoy in Khartoum today, Sunday, which led to the death of two people and the injury of seven others, including three ICRC employees.”
The humanitarian convoy, clearly bearing the Red Cross emblem, was moving to evacuate more than 100 civilians in danger when it was attacked.
The statement called for immediate protection for all civilians, including those working in the humanitarian and medical fields.
The Sudanese army admitted on Sunday that it had targeted an International Committee of the Red Cross convoy that was trying to evacuate civilians south of Khartoum, causing two deaths and a number of injuries, accusing the committee of not adhering to evacuation instructions.
A statement issued by Sudanese army spokesman Nabil Abdullah said, “The Red Cross convoy came accompanied by an armed vehicle belonging to the Rapid Support Forces, carrying a machine gun crew, and it approached the army’s defensive positions, which led to shooting at the convoy, causing a number of injuries among the organization’s representatives.”
He pointed out that the operation was initiated by the armed forces, in agreement with the Red Cross, to evacuate civilians, including foreigners, who were present at St. Mary’s Church in the Al-Shajara area in Khartoum.
The Al-Shajara military area includes a number of army camps, including the Armored Corps and ammunition, as the area has witnessed violent confrontations between the two sides of the conflict for months.
The spokesman explained that the coordination procedures with the organization included the route starting from the Rumaila cemetery, passing through the Al-Ruwad residential complex, to Best Care Hospital in the Al-Lamap suburb, as a site for handing over civilians, with entry to the area in the northern direction.
He said, “The armed forces regret this incident, which occurred as a result of the organization’s representatives not adhering to the coordination points that had been agreed upon.”
On the other hand, the Rapid Support Forces condemned the incident and said that an army force opened fire and attacked the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation, which led to the death of a member of the Committee and the serious injury of two women.
A Rapid Support statement said that official correspondence had been held with the army and the International Committee to determine the route south of the tree.
He added, “This morning, a delegation from the Red Cross, consisting of three Land Cruisers and three buses bearing the distinctive Red Cross flags and well-known markings, moved towards the Al-Shajara area in Khartoum to evacuate a number of citizens and foreigners, including nuns from Dar Maryam Church.”
He stated that the Rapid Support Forces provided protection for the delegation, and the protection force’s mission ended at the last base of the forces.
He added, “The Red Cross delegation moved alone according to coordination and the itinerary agreed upon between the parties, and when Red Cross vehicles entered areas under the control of the armed forces, heavy fire was fired at them from a force affiliated with the armed forces, which led to the immediate killing of one member of the delegation, the injury of others, and the destruction of 3 buses, and they were forced to Members of the Red Cross delegation got out of the vehicles and took cover on the ground to avoid the attack, which continued for more than a quarter of an hour.”
According to the Rapid Support statement, an officer with the rank of brigadier general affiliated with the armed forces arrived at the scene of the shooting, and the commander of the force that opened the fire reported that he had no prior knowledge of the entry of the Red Cross delegation into his area.
He pointed out that the Red Cross evacuated the dead and injured to areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, and the injured were treated to Al Salam Hospital. In Soba, while the second victim died of his wounds.
The Red Cross works to facilitate the evacuation of civilians stranded at sites of armed clashes in coordination with both parties to the military conflict. It also facilitated during the recent period the release of a large number of military prisoners on both sides in Khartoum and Darfur.
