U.S. Condemns Civilian Bombings in Sudan's Southern Kordofan

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Press Statement

Jen Psaki

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 20, 2014

The United States strongly condemns the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aerial bombardment in Southern Kordofan and reiterates its call upon the Government of Sudan to halt this three-year campaign of armed violence against its own citizens.

Increased military activity in Southern Korodfan since May has killed, wounded, and displaced civilians and damaged public and humanitarian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. Of specific concern is the June 16 bombing of the Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Farandalla, Southern Kordofan, which damaged the facility and wounded several civilians including hospital staff.

The location of the hospital—a clearly marked humanitarian facility—was widely known. Sudan appears to have deliberately targeted the hospital, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation in the area. Targeting of humanitarian facilities represents a willful effort to harm civilians by removing their access to basic, life-saving services. Such attacks call into question the Government of Sudan's sincerity in calling for a National Dialogue to address issues of peace and political and economic reform.