Death of Red Cross workers shot dead by Sudanese army
Follow-up - Moatinoon
Two International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel were killed and others were wounded today by the shooting of the Commissions convoy by members of the Sudanese army south of Khartoum.
The Sudanese army spokesmans office issued a statement on Sunday, clarifying a prior agreement between the Sudanese Armed Forces and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and, on the latters initiative, to evacuate civilians (including foreigners of different nationalities) who were present at St. Marys Church in Khartoum in the tree area.
According to the statement, coordination procedures with the international organization included the identification of the itinerary (Ramila tombs - Al-Rawad complex - Best Care Hospital). Direction to enter the area (north). Delivery point Best Care Hospital.
The statement indicated that the representatives of the international organization had not adhered to all the points mentioned above, entering the region from the southern rather than the northern direction in accordance with the Agreement, thereby violating the fully agreed itinerary. The organizations representatives attended with an armed rebel vehicle with a 12 7 mm machine gun crew approaching the army defence positions, resulting in the motorcade being fired upon and a number of casualties among the organizations representatives.
The statement regrets the incident that occurred as a result of the failure of the organizations representatives to adhere to the agreed focal points and affirmed the unequivocal commitment of the Sudanese army to cooperate with all international humanitarian organizations, and stressed the need to abide by any prior arrangements agreed upon to avoid any that would endanger the lives of those concerned.
In response to the armys statement regarding the incident, the RSF stated that, in advance of coordination through official offices, the southern track had been agreed upon and followed by the delegation. Rapid support provided protection to the delegation and the protection function ended when rapid support was last anchored. Two army officers arrived at the scene. According to the commander of the firing force, he had no prior knowledge of the Red Cross delegations entry, noting that an army member had attacked the delegation during the ambulance operation in an attempt to attack them but for the intervention of some army personnel.
Commenting on the incident, a former ICRC staff member told (citizens), according to his practical experience in many war zones around the world and his full knowledge of ICRC laws; The Red Cross parade cannot be accompanied by an armed vehicle. He did not rule out that the army intended to strike the convoy at the soldiers own discretion or a group of soldiers.
