ٍٍSSP - WASHINGTON – The Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) has published new imagery
confirming that the Government of Sudan has dramatically increased the
number of military strike aircraft at two airbases and that many are in
range to fly deep into South Sudan. SSP has also documented, through the
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s analysis of DigitalGlobe satellite
imagery, craters consistent with reports that Sudan Armed Forces (SAF)
aerially bombarded an apparent civilian area near a strategic bridge in
Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, South Sudan.
SSP has also identified visual evidence consistent with reports of
looting by Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and southern-aligned
forces at a SAF military base in the disputed border town of Heglig.The
destruction or seizure of enemy property may violate international law
governing the conduct of land warfare.
SSP concluded that the militaryaircraft identified at Sudan’s
airbases in El Obeid, North Kordofan, and Kadugli, South Kordofan, “may
represent a significant portion” of SAF’s total combat-capable air
assets. SSP states that at Sudan’s El Obeid airbase, it found five
Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft, five apparent MiG-29 fighters, three
Nanchang Q-5 fighters, and three Antonov transport aircraft of the type
that SAF reportedly uses as bombers. SSP also identified eight Mi-24
helicopter gunships, at SAF’s airbases in El Obeid and Kadugli.
Enough Project Co-founder John Prendergast said:
“The increased concentration of Sudanese army and air force firepower
within striking distance of its border with South Sudan signifies that
we may not have yet seen the worst of the fighting. It is imperative
that crisis diplomacy be enhanced, in particular by finding a way for
China and the US to work together in support of a negotiated stand-down.
Ultimately, the only way full-scale war will be averted is if a
comprehensive peace deal can be struck that addresses the issues
dividing Sudan and South Sudan, creates a process to address the
escalating civil war within Sudan, and ends proxy support to each
other’s rebels. If any of these issues is left unaddressed, the Sudans
will continue to burn.”
Harvard Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Executive Director Charlie Clements, MD, said:
“This report documents evidence of disregard for basic laws of war by
all parties to this widening conflict. All parties have
responsibilities under international law to protect civilian lives and
property.”
Read the latest SSP report, Escalation: Evidence of SAF and SPLA Combat Operations: http://satsentinel.org/report/escalation-evidence-saf-and-spla-combat-op...
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