The bombing was a result of the heightening tensions between Sudan and South Sudan .
heightening
bombing result heighten tension sudan south sudan
The bombing was a result of the <m> heightening </m> tensions between Sudan and South Sudan .
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Samaritan's Purse Refugee Camp Bombed , Allegedly By Sudanese Government
November 14 , 2011|12 : 35 pm
The government of Sudan bombed the Samaritan's Purse refugee camp in Yida , South Sudan , on Thursday , Nov . 10 , alleges the nondenominational evangelical Christian organization .
The camp , located in the oil - rich northern region of Yida , consists of over 24 , 000 refugees who have fled the heavy fighting of Sudan's South Kordofan region .
The camp at Yida is an area of thick bush just about ten miles south of the generally recognized border between South Sudan and Sudan .
The bombing was a result of the <m> heightening </m> tensions between Sudan and South Sudan .
South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan 6 months ago , ending one of Africa's longest civil wars .
Sudan accuses South Sudan of arming Sudanese rebels in the border states of Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile , according to The New York Times .
Samaritan's Purse provides aid , both spiritually and physically , to those in need .
The organization uses DC - 3 planes to deliver food to the refugees of Yida .
The planes deliver six to seven loads a day , three days a week .
The organization has dropped 420 tons of food staples to the refugees , and is in connection with the U . N . 's World Food Program .
According to a Samaritan's Purse press release , Sudan Armed Forces planes dropped four bombs at 3 : 20 p . m . in the region Thursday .
Ken Isaacs , Vice President of programs and government relations at Samaritan's Purse , told The Christian Post that the bombing as a "terrifying event for all of the staff and the people in our community . "
One bomb hit a 200 - student schoolhouse but did not explode , another bomb hit the community marketplace and two others hit the outskirts of the camp .
The bombs did not do any damage and , according to Isaacs , one bomb landed just 5 feet away from a boy , but did not explode .
" [ The ] MineTech International ( MTI ) explosive ordinance disposal ( EOD ) team removed the bomb from the Yida Village School and moved it to an isolated location for disposal at a later date , " according to the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center of South Sudan .
"I urge the United States and the international community to enforce a no - fly zone in the area to protect not only the innocent civilians there but also those who are trying to help them , " Samaritan's Purse president Franklin Graham said in a press release .
"My prayer is that the world will not just sit by and watch and hope for the best like they did during Rwanda , where close to a million people were massacred .
We need to make it clear to the government of Sudan that attacks on innocent people will not be tolerated , " the evangelist said .
The White House has also condemned the bombing .
In a press statement released Nov . 10 , the White House urged the government to stop the bombings immediately .
"We urge the Government of South Sudan to exercise restraint in responding to this provocation to prevent further escalation of hostilities , " read the press release .
The refugee camp had just received food rations when the bombing took place .
Graham said these bombings are a tactic reminiscent of Sudan's civil war , used to injure and kill as many as possible .
The food is delivered , the attackers wait for people to gather to collect the food , and then they bomb the masses .
According to The New York Times , a satellite - imaging program reveals a build - up of Sudanese troops near the South Sudan border in the Blue Nile region .
Images also reportedly reveal upgraded air bases recently captured by government forces .
Sudan's government denies a connection to the bombing .
Sudanese government spokesperson Rabie A . Atti defended the government Sunday , saying , "We are only securing our border . "
Susan Rice , U . S . Ambassador for the United Nations , said the Sudan government "blatantly lied" about the bombing , adding that such a lie proves very disturbing to the United States and many members of the U . N . Security Council .
As Isaacs of Samaritan's Purse contends , Sudan's government denied any bombing in "South Sudan . "
"What do they consider to be South Sudan ? " Isaacs questioned , noting that there are elements of a border dispute , with Yida being only 10 miles from the border .
Describing Yida as a "very insecure" area , Isaacs expressed worry for the future of Yida's refugees .
"The conflict and the insecurity are going to grow .
It is going to get worse before it gets better , " he said .
"There is a need to relocate the people .
The areas that have been offered for relocation are not agreeable , " he added .
According to Isaacs , food supplies are rapidly dwindling .
The refugees received a three - day ration on Oct . 29 , a one - day ration on Nov . 7th and a one - day ration on Nov . 11 .
"We are looking to World Food Programme and the UNHCR to fully respond to the needs [ of the people ] .
We appreciate what they're doing but we remain deeply concerned for the people , " Isaacs said .