SELECTED TESTIMONIES FROM DARFURI REFUGEES IN CHAD

Collected in June and July 2007 on the Chad-Sudan border

Mahasen, a young Darfuri doctor

“The Janjawid, with direct and indirect support from the Sudanese government use genocide and collective murder, rape of women, burning of mosques and killings of children as a weapon. Darfurians are victims of these attacks regardless whether they are living in their villages or in refugee camps. The Sudanese government armed the Janjawid with weapons, ammunition and lots of money. The Janjawid burnt villages and killed people with the help of the Sudanese government who sent technicals and aeroplanes”.

Ahmed, a 13 year old boy from Darfur

“The Janjaweed and the government burnt our houses, cut our trees, and stole our money and goods and animals. They killed the women, the men, the elderly and the young and raped the girls. They attacked the mosque and killed the Imam, the Muazen and people praying in the mosque.”

Iklass, a 17 year old Darfuri girl

"They attacked me. One man branded me, like I was a cow. He told me I was just a slave. They hurt me, and it was painful to sit down for several weeks. Now no one will want to marry me. I wish I could get an education because I am going to be alone in my life and I am going to have to take care of myself. No one will want me."

Khadija, a 22 year old woman from Darfur

“First the aeroplanes came. They circled overhead, and then […] they came back, flying low, and they dropped bombs on us. Suddenly everything exploded into fire. Our houses burst into flames and the earth shook. There was a terrible noise and people were running everywhere and screaming. I picked up my baby and ran away from the village as fast as I could. I shouted at my children to follow me but I don't know where they went. […]. Now I am looking for my children in the camps. I don't know what to do.”

Hanan, a 22 year old Darfuri woman recounts the attack on her village

“The Janjawid arrived on the 15th of August 2003. They separated into groups and attacked the village and killed 30 people, mostly young people and children, and burnt the houses. After burning the village, the Sudanese army arrived with technicals, heavy weapons, helicopters attacking the village along side the Janjawid where attacking on camels and horses. They killed 52 people, mostly children, women and elderly. They also raped more than 20 girls. Next morning, they divided themselves again into three groups and attacked at 4 am killing 70 people. Next morning, they divided themselves again into three groups and attacked at 4 am killing 70 people. When they ran out of ammunition they burnt people and killed them with knives. People ran away to Makjar, but there the government started arresting young men. The government killed some of them, and locked up some depriving them of food and water until they died. They also took some people in cars to the forests or the mountains where they were also killed.”

Mohamad, a 12 year old boy

“We are the children of Darfur. The government of Omar Al Bashir and Janjawid and their people have attacked us with aeroplanes, vehicles and horses and deprived us of our homeland, they have displaced here in Chad. Thousands of us were displaced, and many were killed.”

Sumaiya, a thirteen year old boy, who was ten when his village in Darfur was attacked

“President Omar Ahmad Al Bashir, the Janjawid and the government attacked us with cars, tanks, cannons, RBGs, planes, and small arms, on camels, horses, and they murdered us. We did not want any military in Darfur. We did not want Omar Ahmad Al Bashir and the Janjawid to invade Darfur. The Janjawid and the government burnt our houses, cut our trees, and stole our money and goods and animals. They killed the women, the men, the elderly and the young and raped the girls. They attacked the mosque and killed the Imam, the Muazen and people praying in the mosque. I am Darfurian, I am Sudanese. I will not fear anything, not even death. It is my right to go back to my home.”

Suleiman, an eighteen year old boy who was fourteen when his village in Darfur was attacked

“I saw with my own eyes many of the atrocities that were committed. I saw the burning, the rape, mass murder, pillage, and ethnic cleansing. We want safety, health care, education, education, roads and bridges, hospitals, development and water.”

Abdul, a young man from Darfur, currently seeking refuge in Gaga camp

“We have been through many things in Darfur; the killing of children, women and men; the burning of house, the theft of money. They attacked on camels, and horses, by planes and tanks. They raped girls. We want to go back to our land, but the government of Sudan does not stop the killing. The Janjawid killed the elderly and burnt the mosques, they killed part of Darfur and we had to seek refuge. Omar Ahmad Hasan Al Bashir is the president of the country. He gave weapons to the Janjawid who came and burnt the houses, and slaughtered the women, the children and the men. They cut the trees, took the animals and killed the innocent. I am the son of Darfur.”

Abu Bakr, a young boy who was 13 when his village in Darfur was attacked, he is now 17

“I was happy in Darfur. Darfur is a beautiful country. The president of the Janjawid gave his Janjawid forces weapons and ammunitions, vehicles and planes. The Janjawid came on horses and camels and the burnt the villages and killed people. They raped our mothers and sisters. They stole our money and they displaced to Chad. We found protection here in the camps, very miserable camps.”

Hassan, a 12 year old Darfuri boy

We want UN Forces in Darfur in big numbers. We want the weapons taken from the Jj. We don’t want any peace agreements without UN Force. If there is any peace agreement we cannot return to Darfur unless the weapons have been taken from the Jj. We cannot go back to Darfur; Omar Al Bashir did bad things. Omar Al Bashir is in Darfur so we cannot go to Darfur. Omar Al Bashir and his Jj killed my three brothers and tied their hands behind their backs with an ishmek rop (like a hanging noose) for three days. If there are weapons of Jj, we cannot return to Darfur because Omar Al Bashir and his soldiers and his Jj killed more than 270,000 people. I want to ask Omar Al Bashir: What did people do to kill them like that? So I want to ask a question to Omar Al Bashir: Are you true Muslim? If you are a real Muslim why do you kill without reason? I am a pupil in the 4th class in primary school, so I would like Omar Al Bashir to be judged. Omar Al Bashir is a big criminal who killed children, old men and women. Omar Al Bashir is a big criminal who should be the first to be judged by the UN Court.