Chad/Sudan: Another tragedy in the making

AI Index: AFR 01/008/2006

"The Janjawid had encircled our villages and, when we tried to get back in, they shot at us. Inside the villages they killed all the men they could. Over the next days they came back over and over again, each time taking more things till we had nothing worth taking anymore.”
- Leader of Modaina village

“They were shouting ‘We come to kill the black slaves.’ They came in the houses and ran after those who were trying to flee. I was running away next to the imam who was very old. He was shot four times in the back and in the leg. They then burned the village. Only 10 out of 100 houses remained intact.”
- A resident of Bir Kedouas

Watch a video on the situation in the villages
[http://emedia.amnesty.org/chad-290606-eng.ram]

Once again, AI has heard from dozens of villagers of the horrors of attacks by the Janjawid. These ruthless, mobile fighters that in recent years have terrorized Darfur, in western Sudan, are now wrecking and depopulating villages across whole regions of eastern Chad.

The Janjawid have stolen the cattle that are their main source of wealth, driven them from their homes and villages, and killed or dispersed their inhabitants. Hundreds have died. As many as 75,000 people have fled.

The Janjawid are attacking in strength, and relentlessly. To force villagers to leave their homes and their land, the Janjawid come back again and again – until there is no one left to kill and nothing left to plunder. They have targeted specific ethnic communities, often the largest and wealthiest.

Sudan must prevent cross-border attacks against civilians in Chad by the Janjawid, and disarm them in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement. Chad must deploy military forces to protect civilians, and seek the assistance of an international force if necessary.

Make Some Noise for women in Darfur

[http://noise.amnesty.org/actforwomen]

Media Materials

[http://news.amnesty.org/pages/sudan_AV]