Nyala, July 20(Darfur 24)
Baladna Organization for Social Development, which works in the field of mines awareness and unexplored ordinance , revealed that 4,000 mines and unexploded ordnance( UXO) have been cleared in the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, since January 2024.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the Nyala army base in October 2023, after fierce fighting with the Sudanese army that eventually led to the latter withdrawal from the city.
The director of Baladna Organization for Social Development in South Darfur State, Muhammad Hashem, told “Darfur 24” on Saturday, “The organization responded to a report on Thursday about the presence of a farm containing foreign objects, as it was able to extract 30 landmines from a farm near the Seventh Regiment, located west of the Army Command adjacent to Nyala.” To revive the lime.”
Hashem described the number of mines extracted as threatening the lives of civilians, especially since the mines were near a main street leading to the Grand Market from the Al-Jir and Al-Sarif neighborhoods, in addition to the movement of livestock.
In late December 2023, the Baladna Development Organization was able to extract 771 shells from homes and 5,000 shells and non-explosive ordnance from various types of markets, public places, government institutions, and hospitals.
Hashem said that on July 15, the organization recovered two aerial bombs lying near a gas station and the National Urban Water Authority.
He stressed that “they did not find a map of the presence of mines in the state of South Darfur, but it was clearly confirmed to them that there are anti-human mines, and this is a danger to families.”
Muhammad Hashem stressed that the organization faces great challenges, most notably the lack of funding that would enable it to rescue civilians, sending a message to the relevant organizations and the International Mine Action Fund to support the organization to protect civilians from the remnants of war and mines.