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SSP Evidence: Refugee Camps Bombed

SSP Evidence: Refugee Camps Bombed The Satellite Sentinel Project, or SSP, has released new imagery corroborating reports that the Government of Sudan has bombed two refugee camps in South Sudan. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery, captured on November 14th and analyzed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative for SSP, reveals Sudan’s military aircraft at its El Obeid airbase in North Kordofan – including Antonov planes consistent with those seen by eyewitnesses who described the bombing of the Guffa and Yida refugee camps. According to SSP, the pair of Antonov AN‐26 aircraft based at El Obeid are “well within operational range of the Guffa and Yida camps and capable of performing such a mission.” The satellite imagery also appears to show three ground attack fighters, including two Nanchang Q‐5’s and a Sukhoi SU‐25, as well as four Hind helicopter gunships. SSP also appears to show active enhancement of two airbases seized in Kurmuk on November 2nd, including four new helicopter landing pads within a week. Imagery shows three helicopter gunships and an Antonov – a plane often used in SAF bombing campaigns – recently present on the newly improved airstrip in Blue Nile state’s capital of ad‐Damazin. In addition, SSP spotted a new, 250‐metre expansion in progress at the ad‐Damazin airstrip. (Satellite Sentinel Project 15/11) Senior UN officials sided with South Sudan in accusing Sudan of bombing a southern civilian encampment on November 10th. One United Nations official called for an investigation, suggesting that a war crime might have been committed. (UN, Washington 15/11) The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union ( AU ), Dr. Jean Ping , urged both Governments to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any act that may further aggravate the already tense situation on their common border. Ping pointed out that in the communiqué following President Salva Kiir’s inaugural visit to Sudan in October (p.19008) both Governments had reaffirmed their principled and commendable commitment to building strategic and permanent good‐neighbourly relations. (African Union 15/11) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series Wiley

SSP Evidence: Refugee Camps Bombed

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2011
ISSN
0001-9844
eISSN
1467-825X
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-825X.2011.04167.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The Satellite Sentinel Project, or SSP, has released new imagery corroborating reports that the Government of Sudan has bombed two refugee camps in South Sudan. DigitalGlobe satellite imagery, captured on November 14th and analyzed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative for SSP, reveals Sudan’s military aircraft at its El Obeid airbase in North Kordofan – including Antonov planes consistent with those seen by eyewitnesses who described the bombing of the Guffa and Yida refugee camps. According to SSP, the pair of Antonov AN‐26 aircraft based at El Obeid are “well within operational range of the Guffa and Yida camps and capable of performing such a mission.” The satellite imagery also appears to show three ground attack fighters, including two Nanchang Q‐5’s and a Sukhoi SU‐25, as well as four Hind helicopter gunships. SSP also appears to show active enhancement of two airbases seized in Kurmuk on November 2nd, including four new helicopter landing pads within a week. Imagery shows three helicopter gunships and an Antonov – a plane often used in SAF bombing campaigns – recently present on the newly improved airstrip in Blue Nile state’s capital of ad‐Damazin. In addition, SSP spotted a new, 250‐metre expansion in progress at the ad‐Damazin airstrip. (Satellite Sentinel Project 15/11) Senior UN officials sided with South Sudan in accusing Sudan of bombing a southern civilian encampment on November 10th. One United Nations official called for an investigation, suggesting that a war crime might have been committed. (UN, Washington 15/11) The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union ( AU ), Dr. Jean Ping , urged both Governments to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any act that may further aggravate the already tense situation on their common border. Ping pointed out that in the communiqué following President Salva Kiir’s inaugural visit to Sudan in October (p.19008) both Governments had reaffirmed their principled and commendable commitment to building strategic and permanent good‐neighbourly relations. (African Union 15/11)

Journal

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural SeriesWiley

Published: Dec 1, 2011

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