conflicts
Sudan: MSF pushed for propaganda video
Smoke rises as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. photo
© Uncredited/AP/dpa
The aid organization has repeatedly complained about looting and attacks since the conflict broke out. Now employees of the RSF have been forced to make other statements.
According to the aid organization, employees of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Sudan were forced to make a propaganda video in favor of the conflict party RSF. Their convoy was stopped leaving a warehouse, MSF said on Saturday.
“The RSF asked us to make a statement on camera about the RSF’s handling of this case and we were obliged to do so so that our convoy could continue its journey.” The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a quasi-army that emerged from militias and has tens of thousands of fighters, has been fighting the army under the country’s former deputy ruler since April 15.
The RSF released a video on Friday showing a man in uniform with a group of MSF workers. “Have you been the subject of illegal activities, blackmail, threats or violence by RSF personnel?” the man asks, according to the subtitles. One employee replies, among other things, that humanitarian laws are respected and one can work without interference from any party.
MSF and other aid workers have repeatedly complained of looting and attacks since the conflict erupted. “MSF teams responded to the questions reaffirming MSF’s humanitarian principles: we are not affiliated with any party to the conflict and our sole objective is to assist conflict-affected populations in need of medical assistance,” MSF said. “Vital humanitarian aid must not be exploited.”
At least 780 people killed
The World Health Organization counted 48 confirmed attacks on health workers by early June. According to the UN emergency relief agency OCHA, with reference to figures from the Ministry of Health, at least 780 people were killed and 5,800 injured in the conflict by the beginning of June. Around 1.6 million people are fleeing.
After repeatedly broken ceasefires, the conflicting parties had again agreed on a 24-hour ceasefire from 6:00 a.m. local time on Saturday. According to a dpa reporter in the capital Khartoum, it was largely quiet there in the morning after anti-aircraft missiles could be heard in the early hours of the morning. The situation in the West Darfur region, which was hit by severe violence, was unclear.