Darfur refugees flee air attacks

The UN refugee agency said today it was rushing aid to hundreds of Darfur women and children who survived a 125-mile journey to safety after their town was attacked by planes and helicopters.

The 1,500 Darfuri refugees made the gruelling journey out of the conflict-ravaged Sudanese province by foot and donkey, but are struggling to find food and shelter since arriving in neighbouring Central African Republic, said Jennifer Pagonis, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The refugees told UN officials that their town of Dafak, in southern Darfur, was attacked repeatedly by janjaweed militia from May 12 to May 18, and that their homes had been bombarded, Pagonis said.

“There were more air attacks even as they were fleeing,” the Darfuris told UNHCR monitors, according to Pagonis. “Refugees said they will not return to Darfur before basic safety … can be guaranteed. Many of them expressed fear of further attacks.”

More than 200,000 people in Darfur have been killed and 2.5 million chased from their homes since fighting broke out in 2003 between ethnic African rebels and the pro-government janjaweed militia.