The United Nations on Friday called for a stop to attacks on medical workers in Sudan, amid increasing violence in the war-torn country.
"Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. They must stop now," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Friday.
Dujarric added that the The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified more than 50 attacks on health workers since Sudan's conflict broke out in mid-April.
The statement followed an attack on Thursday on a Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) team that was transporting medical supplies to Khartoum's Turkish hospital - one of only two hospitals operating in the Sudanese capital.
MSF said in a statement that attacks on its workers may force the aid group to withdraw operations completely.
"If an incident like this happens again, and if our ability to move supplies continues to be obstructed, then, regrettably, our presence in the Turkish Hospital will soon become untenable," said Christophe Garnier, MSF's emergencies manager for Sudan.
The fighting broke out last April following a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. It has since claimed at least 3,000 lives.
Some 680,000 people have already fled Sudan, while over 2 million more are internally displaced. The New Arab Staff
Dr Kennedy Omondi is nursing gunshot injuries on his left shoulder at Migori County Referral Hospital on July 20, 2023. He is among five people alleged to have been shot by the police during the anti-government protest. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]
It was a three-day period of horror, marked by loss of lives and beatings, as the fangs of police brutality made a chilling return in Nyanza, leaving behind grieving families and maimed victims.
Hopes that the horrific scenes witnessed in 2017, which resulted in the tragic death of six-month-old Baby Samantha Pendo at the hands of rogue police officers, would be the final chapter of police brutality, were shattered as police officers responded to protests with brutal force.
Reports confirmed that four people have died in Kisumu since Wednesday.
As of yesterday, three patients admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) had between eight and nine bullets lodged in their chests, as doctors struggled to save their lives.
The depth of their injuries highlights the brutal response police officers adopted to quell protests and spared no one who crossed their paths while hunting others in Kisumu’s slums.
Reports indicate that more than 70 patients were nursing gunshot wounds in hospitals across the region.
At the facility, a total of 21 casualties were received on Thursday alone. Although the number was a slight decline from the 37 cases that were handled by the facility on Wednesday, it highlights the severity of the brutal response by law enforcement to the protestors.
According to the facility’s CEO, George Rae, 14 of the victims of the protests on Thursday were admitted, while the medics at the facility also conducted 15 emergency operations.
This happened as the death toll from the protests in Kisumu alone rose to four between Wednesday and Thursday after another victim was shot dead in Kondele. Yesterday, at least four victims were taken to the facility as protests entered the last day.
At Kisumu District Hospital, the body of a second-year engineering student at Kisumu Polytechnic lay in the facility’s mortuary. He was among those who were shot as police officers dispersed protestors.
In Nyalenda slums, an evening of terror on Thursday and yesterday morning saw police officers leave six people nursing gunshot wounds.
The densely populated estate turned into a battle scene as police officers walked through corridors to engage protestors.
At Howic Medical Centre, six victims were treated for gunshot wounds. John Otieno, a doctor at the facility, said that five of the victims were shot with rubber bullets while one was shot with a live bullet.
“Most of the patients attended to yesterday had gunshot wounds, while several others suffered minor injuries from blunt objects,” he said.
Carlos Okoth, a 19-year-old who was shot in the knee, said he was attacked by a police officer dressed in civilian clothes at his doorstep. He said he had been washing dishes before the police officers raided his house.
“I saw people running away, and moments later, police officers riding motorcycles attacked me,” he claimed.
Bernard Ouma, a resident, said he witnessed police on motorbikes brutally attacking and shooting at civilians in the estate.
Victor Ochieng from Bondo, a victim of gun shooting at JOORTH on 20th July 2023. [Michael Mute, Standard]
“People had to lock themselves up in their houses from 4pm to 8pm for fear of being hurt by the police, who were shooting aimlessly at residents,” he said.
But Kisumu was not alone; a similar scenario was also reported in Homa Bay and Migori, where scores of people are also nursing gunshot wounds as police quelled protests.
In Homa Bay, several victims of police brutality are writhing in pain in various hospitals as they seek help from well-wishers. At Homa Bay County Referral Hospital, we met three survivors with bullet injuries on various parts of the body.
The victims sustained the injuries in Rongo town, Migori County, on Thursday evening. The worst victim was Lameck Owuor, a 28-year-old man who was shot in the neck.
Owuor, a resident of Rongo town, could not utter any word after being shot in the neck, which left his neck and mouth swollen.
Homa Bay County Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ogola, said they were planning to transfer him to Kisii County Hospital for specialized medication. “We want to refer him to a specialist in Kisii,” Owuor said.
Derick Otieno, 18, a resident of Rongo, sustained a bullet injury on his upper right arm. Otieno said he was shot on his way from his workplace to his house.
“I was trekking from where I cook doughnuts when I encountered the police. I suddenly realised I had been shot,” Otieno said. He appealed to well-wishers to support him in meeting his medical bills. “The main concern is my health. I appeal to well-wishers to support me.”
Steve Olando, a 28-year-old resident of Rongo town, was in agony too. Olando sustained a gunshot wound on his left shoulder near Rongo Primary School. He was taken to Rongo Sub-county Hospital and referred to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital.
Olando said he was not part of the protestors. He said he was going to Kamagambo Police Station to find out the whereabouts of his niece, who had been arrested.
On Thursday morning, six people from Homa Bay town were admitted to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital with gunshot wounds.
Yesterday, activists and residents protested the alleged use of excessive force by the police. Efforts to get a comment from the police were futile. [Harold Odhiambo, Sharon Owino, Anne Atieno and James Omoro]
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has claimed the police have shot dead 28 people since Kenyans took to the streets to protest the High cost of living and the Finance Act 2023.
In a statement on Friday, July 21, 2023, KHRC said that 27 of the deaths happened between July 7 and July 19 as reported by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
"From July 7 to 19, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have reported 27 extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions (EJE) – Fatal police shootings," the statement read in part.
KHRC has blamed President William Ruto for using the police to silence dissenting voices, reneging on his promise to end the era of police killer squads.
"While President Ruto had promised to end the era of police killer squads, the recent unfoldings reveal that the security agencies have clear intentions to execute protestors. In fact, it has been reported that some of these officers masquerade as journalists in order to arrest and execute protestors," KHRC stated.
"The five deaths in Mlolongo are clear examples of state-ordered executions. Out of these, 3 had gunshots to the head, 1 had gunshot wound on the chest (close range), and a lady had gunshot wound on the back. This shows that there was clear intention by the security agents to shoot to kill. All the five shootings took place miles away from the ExpressWay where the main protests were ongoing."
KHRC has also condemned the police for using illegal ways to arrest protestors and taking some to unknown destinations, while others disappear without trace.
"The use of non-uniformed officers who in most cases are seen to use vehicles with either distorted or no number plates, bundle protestors into car trunks and speed off to unknown locations is also on the rise. These actions contravene the Criminal Procedures Code and Police Standing Orders," the statement added.
"We are witnessing a disturbing pattern of police operation that exposes the country to civil strife and informal repression. Police are now working together with what appears to be private militia to attack and butcher people in Dandora and Kibera in Nairobi, Mlolongo in Machakos and some areas in Kisumu and Migori. These strikes are taking place in the cover of darkness with hope of shielding perpetrators from accountability."
KHRC has also flagged the attack on human rights defenders by the police, claiming that at least 43 human rights defenders have been arbitrarily arrested, abducted, unlawfully detained and slapped with criminal and trumped-up charges.
.The commission says that 34 human rights defenders were arrested on July 7 in Nairobi and Turkana Counties respectively, one was assaulted, arrested, and detained without access to medical attention on July 12, two in Kajiado County on the same day. Two were attacked at their office on July 19, 2023, while Boniface Ogutu was abducted on July 20 and his whereabouts remain unknown.
KHRC has also accused the government of risking the lives of journalists who have been at the forefront covering the protests.
"With this regime, journalists have also been caught on crossfire. It seems there is a motive to silence them through subtle tactics. First, it started when the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) published images of protesters, taken by journalists, and said the demonstrators were wanted. This exposed journalists to risk of being attacked by protesters. Again, on Wednesday, a police officer masquerading as a journalist arrested a protester in Mathare. We all know what is likely to happen when reporters show up with their cameras in closed areas like Mathare: they are now marked men and women," KHRC added.
"Despite these facts and evidence of police brutality, the President on Thursday thanked police for “standing firm and ensuring that there is peace” while the interior minister, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, said police acted with “utmost professionalism” and public “hooliganism” had been contained. We condemn these statements."
KHRC has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to investigate cases of arbitrary arrests, mistreatment and all atrocities committed by the police.
The commission has also called on the President and the Legislature must repeal or amend the Finance Act to address the concerns raised by the public.
KHRC also wants a national dialogue process initiated that involves all stakeholders including the CSOs, and religious leaders among others.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is appealing for sustained focus on long-term solutions to address the needs of millions of people forced to flee in and out of South Sudan.
Speaking to the media in Juba yesterday, after one week’s visit to the country, the UNHCR Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Amb. Mohammed Affey, said that, beyond humanitarian action, supporting the creation of conditions for returnees and recovery is critical to building durable peace and stability and achieving sustainable solutions for displaced populations.
“It is important to keep the momentum of Sudan and South Sudan solutions initiative for refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons and host communities.”
Amb. Affey was able to visit Malakal IDP camp in Upper Nile State, an area of the country that is a microcosm of the overlapping crises the country is facing.
He said the area’s complex context represents a great challenge and opportunity for humanitarians, peace, and development triple nexus programming.
“This includes ensuring that the newly arrived have land to settle on and cultivate while providing access to basic services like health and education,” Affey said.
“For returning South Sudanese, it also includes the opportunity to participate in political dialogues and peace processes.”
According to him, South Sudan’s refugee crisis remains the largest in Africa, with over 2.2 million South Sudanese displaced across the country’s borders
“Another 2.3 million are displaced within South Sudan, while the country itself hosts over 300,000 refugees from neighbouring countries,” he stated.
He said South Sudan was already suffering from a deep humanitarian crisis prior to the outbreak of conflict in Sudan with three-quarters of the population deemed to be in need of humanitarian aid.
He stated that the country’s crisis is being fuelled by conflict, security concerns, historic flooding, food insecurity, and failing infrastructure where over 180,000 people have fled to South Sudan since the start of the conflict in Sudan
“As fighting in Sudan continues, arrivals are expected to increase. The wider impacts of the conflict on South Sudan are manifold,” he stressed.
He continued that the life-saving emergency assistance currently being provided by humanitarian partners and the government now needs to go hand in hand with a more comprehensive response to create conditions to allow displaced populations to rebuild their lives
“South Sudan is at a crucial juncture. UNHCR and its humanitarian partners are fully committed to supporting the government in the reception of refugees and returning South Sudanese.” By Matia Samuel
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.[File, Standard]
Azimio la Umoja co-principal and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been under house arrest since Tuesday evening, July 18, according to National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.
The Ugunja MP, who was addressing the press outside Kalonzo’s Karen home in Nairobi on Friday, July 21, 2023, said: "Kalonzo’s freedom of movement has been curtailed.
“We hope that whoever is responsible will desist from this and allow him to enjoy his liberty and freedom of movement going forward,” said Wandayi.
He called on Azimio supporters to remain firm and stay committed to the course. "Those arrested should be released unconditionally," the MP said.
He added: “We want to encourage our people to remain peaceful wherever they are and abide by the law even when they have been provoked,” Wandayi said. By Emmanuel Kipchumba, The Standard
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