U.S. Accuses Sudan of Stepping up Attacks on Civilians

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations accused Sudan Thursday of intensifying attacks on civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and of deliberately bombing schools and hospitals.

Samantha Power condemned "in the strongest possible terms" attacks she said were being carried out by the Sudanese government and its rapid support forces against ordinary people.

Ground and air attacks have increased since April, with hundreds of barrel bombs and other ordnance dropped on towns and villages, deliberately targeting hospitals and schools, she said.

The United States was also disturbed by reports of air strikes targeting civilian aid workers, which if accurate would seriously violate international law, she said.

Ethnic minority rebels in the area have been fighting government forces for three years in a largely hidden war which the United Nations says has affected more than one million people.

Unrest has been fueled by grievances among non-Arab groups over neglect and discrimination by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

"The uptick in violence in South Kordofan and Blue Nile has displaced or severely affected approximately 1.2 million people; it has increased the population's vulnerability to disease and malnutrition; and it has disrupted planting cycles, which will only compound food insecurity in the regions," Power said.

She compared the government's tactics with those used in the war-torn western region of Darfur, where more than 300,000 people have been displaced so far this year alone, she said.

"The United States calls on all armed groups in Sudan to cease all violence against civilians and comply with international law," she said.

The Sudanese mission to the United Nations was not immediately reachable for comment.