A huge fire broke out in Jebel Salamah, El-Geneina locality in West Darfur on Saturday October 27 and destroyed a number of large millet farms belonging to Dorti and Riyadh camp residents, Radio Dabanga has learned.

Local community leader, Mohamed Ibrahim, disclosed to Radio Dabanga that the massive fire broke out on the second day of Eid al-Adha in the agricultural area of Jebel Salamah. He added that the fire lasted for more than six hours.

Ibrahim confirmed that the fire burnt nine millet farms to the ground and explained that these farms cover an area of more than 15 hectares.

He added to Radio Dabanga that the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/37692

In a press release issued on October 26, Trial Chamber IV of the International Criminial Court (ICC) in the Hague, rejected a “request for a temporary stay of procedures” in the Banda and Jerbo case. The request was submitted by the defense on January 6 of the current year to cancel temporary procedures of the prosecutor against Abdullah Banda and Saleh Jerbo.

The defense argued that the accused could not receive a fair trial due to inadequate facilities to investigate. In addition, the defense also claimed the need of access to important documents of regional and international governments and organizations to proceed.

The chamber asked all parties involved in the judicial proceedings to provide a written response reflecting their vision on the crimes allegedly committed by Abdullah Banda, Saleh Jerbo and others at the UNAMID site in Haskanita on September 29 of the year 2007. The responses should be submitted before the start of the trial.

ICC press release: Banda and Jerbo case (26 October 2012)

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/37687

A number of residents from Bindessey camp in Central Darfur have complained about the continuous gunmen attacks on their homes and shops at night time, Radio Dabanga learned on Sunday October 28.

A camp resident said that their homes and shops had been subjected to a series of robberies and theft at night time, during the past two weeks. He added to Radio Dabanga that the attacks were carried out by pro-government militants.

He explained that the most recent incident happened a day before Eid al-Adha, Thursday, when two shops were broken into and 1 million Sudanese Pounds (SDG), a sugar sack and perfume was stolen. From another store an amount of 500 SDG was stolen, the resident continued.

He appealed to the local authorities to intervene and protect the displaced and their property.

Looting and shooting

At the same time, pro-government militias seriously injured a man on Sunday and looted 30 million SDG from the victim. The victim told Radio Dabanga that an armed group in two Land Cruiser vehicles opened fire on him and his brother, as they were on their way to Saraf Omra from Jebel ‘Aamer in North Darfur, during which the victim’s brother was injured in his leg.

He disclosed that the gunmen left his brother behind and pulled him into the car and took him to a place within walking distance from Saraf Omra, where they released him.

The victim added that he reported the incident to the police in Saraf Omra.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/37691